Inspirations Kindness Lighten Up Love middle ground Self Discovery Spirituality

* Delight in Waking Up

by Val Boyko
Comments 43

 

waking up to sunshine

Believe in the goodness of your soul.

Acknowledge how well it has guided you.

And yet know that you will fall asleep along the way.

When you sleep,

Take no delight in blaming yourself.

Take delight in waking yourself up once more.

Self blame is the deepest injury,

The deepest sleep of all.

Wake yourself up with gentle affection.

Yogi Amrit Desai

I love this perspective 🙂

In the highs and lows of life, its all too easy to become disconnected from our inner Presence.

We fall further asleep when we blame or criticize ourselves and cannot see our innate goodness.

May we all take delight in waking up with gentle affection…

43 comments on “* Delight in Waking Up”

  1. jmgoyder
    February 28, 2015

    For me this is the best timing ever as tomorrow is March 1st and I have decided to (once again!) give up smoking. My plan is to wake up early and go for a bike ride to clear my fuzzy head and then enter the day with the energy that always comes with a resolution. Thank you Val xx

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  2. Hariod Brawn
    February 28, 2015

    Really lovely words Val; the ubiquitous contemporary trend in obsessional self-criticism seems curiously redundant and pernicious to me. I think there’s a kind of inverted egocentricity in it: we judge that we can’t be uniquely good and successful, so we create instead the idea of being uniquely poor and failing. It’s all just the assertions of egoic thinking really. Seems the ego doesn’t like the middle ground? 😉

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    • Val Boyko
      February 28, 2015

      Thank you for this perspective Hariod. I agree It is an expression of ego. I am still surprised that so many compassionate people have such a critical inner judge. I wonder if it is the expectation that everything can be perfectly positive and happy if only they try hard enough and are good enough. And when it doesn’t happen that way they think it is about their shortcomings, rather than being a part of life.
      In the middle ground there’s nothing for the ego to do …. why hang around somewhere so boring after all…. hahaha!

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  3. lorriebowden
    February 28, 2015

    I love the gentle message here, Val. It seems strange that we should fall asleep…but we do. When I wake up I am amazed at how it happened and I wonder if I will get better at detecting the nodding off. In the past I would berate myself and continue the old patterns of abuse…patterns that also sneak up on me at times without my awareness. Thanks for the quiet beauty of this message. Many blessings to you ❤

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  4. nrhatch
    February 28, 2015

    Self blame and criticism stem from a desire to be other than we are ~ an unwillingness to accept the “what is” that creates unnecessary suffering.

    Love the quote you shared which is echoed by this excerpt from Awakening to the Sacred by Lama Surya Das:

    “We practice Dharma when we stop clinging to our preconceived notions about what we should do and achieve. We find truth when we learn to let go, accept, see things as they are, and just be. We find truth by discovering our inner light, our inner value and values, our authenticity and genuineness. This is living truly.” ~ (p. 114)

    Our essential nature, like the wateriness of water, does not change. What changes is our capacity to share that essential nature with the world. We learn to go with the flow instead of exhausting ourselves by struggling against the current.

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  6. kimberlyharding
    February 28, 2015

    Oh Val…this made my morning. Words were what I needed with my morning coffee.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. smilecalm
    February 28, 2015

    i’m feeling
    extra belief
    thanks, Val 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Kate @ Did That Just Happen?
    February 28, 2015

    What a great way to start my morning, thank you Val! And I like Nancy’s addition related to accepting was is, and not bringing our assumptions to the table and distorting our view!

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Eliza Waters
    February 28, 2015

    The first line says it all. Thanks, Val!

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. dianasschwenk
    February 28, 2015

    Yes, within your metaphor, we fall asleep and need to wake up Val. In my literal/physical experience, I am robbed of peaceful slumber and stumbling around tired and defeated when I give in to self-blaming. ❤
    Diana xo

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  11. ChrisB
    February 28, 2015

    Waking up this morning, I smile,
    Twenty-four brand new hours before me
    I am committed to living fully in each moment
    And looking at all beings with the eyes of compassion.
    (Thich Naht Hanh)

    Good morning, always good to be reminded when I wake uo that I need to wake-up
    best wishes, C.

    Liked by 1 person

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  12. Robert Jepson
    February 28, 2015

    Such truth, no matter how awake we are spritually, we begin to become unconscious as soon as we allow criticism of ourselves or others. Prescence and mindfulness require constant nurturing 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Healing Grief
    February 28, 2015

    This is so beautiful and to let go of the judgement we place on ourselves and others allows our souls to soften and help us feel connected again. It is a lesson I have learned many times! Thanks Val 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. Vicki Flaherty
    February 28, 2015

    Reblogged this on This Abundantly Delicious Life and commented:
    This is a post from another wonderful new discovery – Val Boyko and her Find Your Middle Ground blog. Ah, something resonates about waking up with gentle affection. Thanks, Val.

    Liked by 1 person

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  16. Tiny
    February 28, 2015

    Great wisdom here, Val. I agree that we tend to become disconnected from who we really are, without even noticing…Thanks for the reminder!

    Liked by 1 person

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  17. maureenmonte
    March 1, 2015

    I’m here through my dear friend Vicki Flaherty, whom I work with, who has supported me through many ups and downs in our company, but we have never met (can you imagine?) I loved your blog, Val, and have subscribed. Well done, and thank you.

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    • Val Boyko
      March 1, 2015

      Thank you so much for your kind words Maureen. I am amazed at how we make meaningful connection with others without meeting them these days! I am also a big fan of Strengthsfinder and look forward to sharing inspiration with you.

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      • maureenmonte
        March 2, 2015

        Hi Val! What a nice response! How cool you are familiar with Strengthsfinder! I blog about it (and other leadership related stuff) on my site if you care to check it out – maureenmonte.com – feel invited, not obligated! What are your top 5? Mine are Ideation, Strategic, Learner, Achiever, and Individualization. Vicki Flaherty has rock star strengths as well! Thanks again!

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        • Val Boyko
          March 2, 2015

          Mine are ideation, strategic, learner, empathy, input! M

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          • maureenmonte
            March 3, 2015

            OMG, mine are Ideation, Strategic, Learner, Achiever, and Individualization! How fun is this! You are a rock star!! My empathy is like #30, so we could partner on that strength when it was needed. I’ll ask vicki to come share hers as well – no wonder you are so kind, with that Empathy strength – it is lovely. Look forward to more dialogue around it.

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          • maureenmonte
            March 3, 2015

            Sorry I listed mine twice. 🙂 Input is wonderful – you are a human data base of helpful information! I bet it contributes to your ability to create interesting content for your blog.

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