Posts Tagged ‘being present’

• Is ‘Unhappiness’ a requirement for Happiness?

  written by Simone on Thursday, September 1st, 2011

  There is so much talk about happiness today that it seems like anything that makes us happy is good and anything that falls under the ‘unhappiness’ umbrella is bad only to chase the things that create the former and avoid the things that make us feel the latter. Has the pendulum swung [...]

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• Stillness & Effort

  written by Simone on Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

  A yogi instructed in class the other day that, “the only effort you need to expend is the effort it takes to bring you to the present moment.” All of our decisions, choices, and actions are best made from this moment. Not “in reaction to” but rather from a place of stillness, only accessible in [...]

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• Meditation at Work

  written by Simone on Sunday, May 1st, 2011

  After meditation practice, I often feel peaceful, calm, serene, a sense of connection, openness, inner joy and relaxation … and then I go to work … and poof within the hour my connection to this inner state has disappeared. Where does it go?  How do we cultivate a more mindful work environment? Can we make [...]

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• Is “patience” a state of mind?

  written by Simone on Saturday, April 2nd, 2011

  I struggle with patience.  Two phrases make me cringe, ‘be patient’ and ‘have faith.’ I don’t know why. Is it because I am immature or childish and I just want what I want now? Does one have patience because they have faith and trust or is patience something that transcends the content of thoughts and better understood in the context of [...]

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• Inner Practice

  written by YeShey on Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

  Every time I sit down to discuss my practice with my teacher; the first thing that he always reminds me is that the inner practice is the most important. I also hear  Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo commenting again and again on the need for each of us to watch our mind. What if [...]

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• Five Ways to Get Present, Now

  written by Simone on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

  Here are five ways to get into the moment when you’ve lost your center and stess has taken over. Maybe you have heard all of these words of wisdom before; however, here is the medtitative or yogic perspective.  Remember, our mind, attachment to our thoughts, our stories, are the source of our suffering (stress); in order [...]

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• Why are you meditating? What’s your motivation?

  written by Simone on Saturday, June 12th, 2010

   “Why am I meditating?” is the single most important question to ask and answer for yourself as you begin. Honestly, some early mornings, my motivation or goals, or hopes for some future state of mind are the only reason I meditate.  Knowing, honestly why you are meditating will help you get onto the cushion when [...]

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• Top Seven Mindfulness Tips

  written by Simone on Friday, March 5th, 2010

  In becoming more mindful we create more presence, peace and joy for ourselves and the world around us regardless of what is happening ‘out there.’ It is not just a tactic to reduce stress in the moment, but mindfulness creates a stable foundation to our lives and a more effective way of being in the world. How do [...]

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• Too busy to meditate?

  written by Simone on Friday, December 18th, 2009

  It’s ironic that the #1 reason (we hear) people don’t’ meditate is “I am too busy.” “I will start meditating when things calm down a bit,” “I will start my meditation practice when things are less hectic, when my children get a little older and there is more peace and quiet in the house.”  Hey, [...]

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• “The hardest thing to do in the world is to show-up”

  written by Simone on Friday, November 6th, 2009

  I was watching Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness lecture to Google employees on Youtube and as he spoke these words or something like them I thought “that’s it, isn’t it?” It seems for most of us, or the people I hang-out with, once we start whittling down our wants and needs, once we get past the “once X [...]

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