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Oneness: I Am You and You Are Me
and We Are All Together
by Barbara
Biziou |
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Mindfulness: Living in the Now
When we are paying attention to what is, rather
than what we would like it to be, we are truly living in
the present. This is easier said than done. I have found
this to be a lifelong journey of accepting current
reality without having it squash my naturally optimistic
personality.
If
we can accept people and situations for whom and what
they are in the moment, we have a clearer guidance
system for moving forward and for making conscious
choices.
Back in the 80’s, I was teaching a course called DMA,
founded by Robert Fritz. It helped people move from
where they were to where they wanted to go. Much to my
surprise, I began to see how challenging it was for
people to define their current reality. Most people
exaggerated it better or worse. How many times have you
said, “My life is falling apart,” ” I am fabulous,” “I
don’t have a clue what I want to do”.
Slow down and be present
It
is hard to be mindful if we are running around and
multi-tasking. It is rare to see anyone sitting quietly
anymore. At every restaurant, airport, park, and beach
people are addicted to Blackberries and iPhones. Are we
afraid to stop?
Two years ago, I went to Sardinia for vacation. I
decided to leave my cell phone home. It seemed like a
great idea until I got to the airport. Could I do it? Be
out of touch for ten days? You would have thought I was
kicking a drug habit. I began to get nervous, my inner
voices went nuts and my heart was pounding like a base
drum.
To
be brief, it took me a few days to “detach” from my
addiction to intensity and then a miracle happened. I
began to move slower, my senses were heightened and my
focus was on the present moment. My energy flowed
smoothly like running water and I was truly in the flow
of life.
To
truly be mindful we must recover that which has been
lost in an increasingly fast-paced, frenetic reality.
Here are some suggestions that I find to be helpful:
Fast from using cell phones, Blackberries, iPhones,
and Computers
Give yourself a break. Take an hour, a day, or a weekend
and leave the equipment home. In my corporate teachings,
I see a trend to have people check in their devices
before a meeting to avoid distractions. Yes, we can see
you texting under the table!
The breath is the key to meditation
When we are tense or anxious, we tend to hold our
breath. The breath is the key to finding inner peace and
harmony. It is our link with our bodies and the world.
For most of us, breathing is something we never think
about, yet, for the most part, we are breathing shallow
breaths into our chest. This shallow breathing creates
a stressful condition in our minds and bodies. By
slowing down your breath, you will instantly relax your
body and bring clarity into your mind.
Imagine that you can breathe into your heart center.
Take a few slow deep breaths. Inhale to the count of 4,
hold, and exhale to the count of 4.
Practice finger holds
Each finger represents a different emotion.
Thumb: grief, emotional pain
Index: fear, terror, pain
Middle: anger, rage, resentment
Ring: worry, anxiety, nervousness
Small: lack of self esteem, victim
Hold the finger for about 5 minutes.
Recognize and acknowledge emotions.
Breathe out and let go.
Let feelings drain out of you into Earth.
Breathe in harmony and strength.
Copyright © 2009 Barbara Biziou. All Rights Reserved.
Barbara Biziou
is a catalyst for change. As one of the leading experts
in ritual and empowerment, Barbara maintains a deep
commitment to integrating practical spirituality into
people’s lives to bring them prosperity, happiness and
success. She is the author of The Joy of Ritual
and The Joy of Family Rituals and lives in NYC
Barbara is an internationally acclaimed teacher of
practical spirituality. She provides creative solutions and tools that inspire and move others to transform their dreams into reality. She appeared as the ritual expert on the Hallmark Channel and as a life coach and spiritual mentor on Academy Award nominee, Morgan Spurlock’s, hit television show 30 Days. She has been featured on a variety of national television and radio shows and in several major newspapers and magazines including: The CBS Morning Show, Good Day New York, Today in NY, The New York Times, Body and Soul, Harper’s Bazaar, and New York Magazine. Barbara translates ancient metaphysical concepts into practical realities and has helped thousands integrate everyday spirituality into their hectic lives..
www.joyofritual.com.
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