Spirituality

The roots of giving is the awakened heart. If we remain open to the unknown and are willing to decline the seductive call to withdraw, we are free to follow the natural urge to give in even the smallest and most underwhelming ways.

There are more ways to rest than sleep alone, but our chronically “on” and high-achieving lifestyle would have us believe otherwise. For optimal health and wellness, we want to embrace ALL the ways we can rest our mind, body and soul. The first type of…

As our limited roles fall away, there is a shift from ambition toward connection. We may be as productive as ever, but the motivation is different. Liberated from the pressure to hustle for our worth, we can drop the masks of our persona which allows our spirit to shine.

It’s mid-February and an unexpected snow storm turned Portland into a winter wonderland. For a hot minute, I fretted over my emerging tulips that thought it was spring only a week before. And then I remembered, the only thing we can expect is the unexpected.

Life can be messy, you can feel out of control and find yourself in situations where the rug seems to have been pulled from underneath you. One thing that helps me in those times, or even on ordinary days where things don’t go as planned, is to remind myself to make it sacred.

I came across a meditation from Sarah Blondin on Insight Timer called ‘Make it sacred’; a part of her Live Awake series. When needed, it is medicine for the soul.

It’s a long read. Your ego will fidget. See what you can do to soften, surrender and allow the healing effects to wash over you.

It is reminding us to keep our egos in check. It is reminding us that no matter how great we think we are or how great others think we are, a virus can bring our world to a standstill.

A long time ago a wise, old yogi named Patanjali wrote a text called the Yoga Sutras. The sutras outlined eight different ways to live in alignment with our highest nature. Like a gentle guiding hand, the Yoga Sutras warn you of the inevitable pitfalls on this journey called life. According to Yoga, we suffer because we are blind to our true Self.

Your mind is likely thinking, “Wait a minute. What’s the catch?” The only one is that you have to do it. Thinking about helping that elderly person cross the street doesn’t cut it. You have to do it.

When we regularly cultivate inner grounding, we set ourselves up for greater resiliency. One of the best ways to do this is through ritual. The key to success is simplicity and repetition. Have a variety of ways to slow down and then pick one to practice. It could be something you already do each day. The change is in the intention.

I’m in awe each time a client lets me into their private world – especially when they’ve been hurt by those closest to them. Imagine the courage it takes to walk into a stranger’s office and reveal yourself while every bone in your body is saying, “Don’t do it. You’ll just get hurt again.”