“This is the path we take in cultivating joy: learning not to armor our basic goodness, learning to appreciate what we have.
Most of the time we don’t do this.
Rather than appreciate where we are, we continually struggle to nurture our dissatisfaction.
It’s like trying to get flowers to grow by pouring cement on the garden.”
~ Pema Chodron taken from “The Places That Scare You”
Do you find yourself thinking about the things that aren’t going the way you want and complaining about your circumstances, other people, yourself?
Next time you catch yourself resisting or resenting, imagine that you are pouring cement on your garden.
It’s an incredibly powerful practice to start clearing out the thoughts that poison our own happiness.
We can change this by re-focusing on planting seeds that come from the heart. The seeds of gratitude, appreciation and loving kindness.
Oh geez. Thank you Val. I do need to stop nurturing the wrong things. It’s amazing how a different way of hearing something opens our eyes wider.
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Glad you appreciated this Colleen. 👀
Thank you 💛
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You’re welcome Val 🙂
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Yes! How we feel about life depends on where we place our focus. If we get in the habit of focusing on the negatives, life is a dark and dingy place. If we turn our attention to what is “right” with life, we find ample evidence that life is light and bright.
Master your thoughts, master your life. 😀
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Wise words Nancy. Thank you.
Now to live them as best we can 💕
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Where the mind goes the man follows, right? We can’t live a positive life when our heads are filled with negative thoughts.
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Yes. Thank you Jill 💛
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Loved Pema for decades now. “… learning not to armor our basic goodness …” Love this. ❤
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Thats the part that really sticks isnt it… 💕
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It is. Because, though we need boundaries, we do not need walls. ❤
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I also love: “Every thought is a prayer.” ❤
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Ah yes, now we travel deeper. 💕
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What a shocking image that is (pouring cement on your garden) and quite eye-opening! Thanks, Val. Wise advice as always. ❤
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Thanks Diana. The image shocked me as well. (Of course, I couldn’t find something so horrible on images on the internet)
May it keep waking us up when we find ourselves moving towards resistance and negativity. 💕
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LOVE IT!!! Val! That is a pretty unbelievable image…not one I want to partake in…so it has made a huge impact! The amazing thing is how often we are pouring cement and we don’t even realize it!!
Sending lots of love and light…hope you are well ❤
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Thank you dear Lorrie. 💛 When I read this I had such a strong reaction too. It’s an image to have ready when we notice ourselves moving towards resistance, complaining and self pity.
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I like the image of the cement mixer 🙂 It will stay with me…as a great reminder ❤
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Me too! 👀 Thank you Helen.💛
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