Tag Archives for Inspiring words

Confidence is Very Attractive

Today’s mantra is for when you want to make a positive impact. If you are heading back to work after a break, or starting something new, this one is especially for you.

confidence is very attractive

Confidence is very attractive

This photograph reminds me of the times when we move from trying to become something, to embracing it fully. When we move from doubting or being insecure and then begin to own our abilities.

To me this puppy has progressed from learning to walk on his leash to knowing how to do it. He is owning it… and boy does he look good … and happy!

What a great lesson for all of us.

He is radiating joy in what he is doing and feeling good about himself.

He isn’t needing validation saying “Look at me.”

He isn’t doubting himself saying  “I’m not sure if I am any good.”

He’s saying “I am me.”

This kind of “knowing” self confidence is so attractive – to others and to ourselves.

Knowing who you are – your strengths, needs and core values – are the foundations for building confidence, and becoming attractive to yourself and others.

Inspiration – Lingering in Happiness

linger after the rain

Lingering in Happiness 
After rain after many days without rain,
it stays cool, private and cleansed, under the trees,
and the dampness there, married now to gravity,
falls branch to branch, leaf to leaf, down to the ground
where it will disappear — but not, of course, vanish
except to our eyes. The roots of the oaks will have their share,
and the white threads of the grasses, and the cushion of moss;
a few drops, round as pearls, will enter the mole’s tunnel;
and soon so many small stones, buried for a thousand years,
will feel themselves being touched.

~Mary Oliver

 

Let your very roots be touched and nourished with Mary Oliver’s words today.

* A-Z Inspiration

Don in a glen

Altered being
cancer discovered
Embracing fear

Going home
inward journey
Kindling love
meaningful nurture

Outcomes postponed
Questions resolved
Staying true

Unbelievable valiance
Wonderful extraordinary
You … without end

Happy Anniversary Don ❤️

val and don

 

Inspiration – May you Awaken to the Mystery

becoming

“May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence. May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon. May you respond to the call of your gift and find the courage to follow its path.

May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul. May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.

May the flame of anger free you from falsity. May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame and may anxiety never linger about you.

May you be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul. May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.”

~ John O’Donohue

I found these words especially moving today.

May you have a day filled with unfolding mystery and presence.

* Believe Nothing

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha

awakening of self

A sage’s words and wisdom mean little in themselves.

Let us all look to our own inner teacher and guide.

Trust in ourselves and our knowing.

Have faith in our own experience of the world.

This knowing is there for every one of us.

It is the place of personal growth and evolution.

Namaste

 

*Mantra for Today – stepping out of our comfort zone

This mantra is for when you find yourself holding back because you are taking on something new or stepping out of your comfort zone. You may be afraid of how you will be received, or how others will perceive you.

This is my “go to” mantra before having a difficult conversation, meeting new people, or stepping out into the unknown.

Instead of reacting to the fear by withdrawing or becoming tense and protective, this reminds me to open up and embrace the situation instead. It is my favorite!

waiting for courage

Compassion 

then

Curiosity

and

Connection

overcome fear

Compassion for myself and others. Open my heart to our common humanity. We all get nervous when we face the unknown and stretch ourselves. We are all human beings looking for reassurance and safety.

Curiosity about others. What is important to them? What do they care about? We are unique and interesting human beings, and we all want to be acknowledged and accepted just the way we are.

Connection. We are all human beings looking for love and understanding. Within each of us is a divine spark that already connects us in spirit.

When the heart opens, and the mind lets go, fear disappears.

When we live from this place of love, there is no fear, only connection.

Namaste

* Reflections on Ego – “I” and “i”

I have been reading more about ego as part of my exploration of the self in yoga. For practitioners (and interested peeps) this is the fourth observance or Niyama called svadhayaya.

What I’ve discovered is that what I come across, builds on the foundations that I have written about before here and here.

And … you don’t need to be on a spiritual path of yoga to appreciate this wisdom.

This particular insight into ego really resonated with me.

woman looking sat self

“The ego is a reflection of our true Self on the mind. The two appear to be the same, but one is the original, the other a reflected duplicate. 

These two “I”‘s are often referred to as the little “i” and the capital “I”.

What is the difference? Just a small dot, a little blemish of ego.

The capital “I” is just one pure stroke, just as the highest truth is always simple and pure.

What limits us and makes us little? Just the dot.

Without the dot we are always great, always capital “I”.  All the practices of yoga are to remove the dot.”

Sri Swami Satchidananda

… its just our little dot …

Namaste

Confidence is Very Attractive

Today’s mantra is for when you want to make a positive impact. If you are heading back to work after a break, or starting something new, this one is especially for you.

confidence is very attractive

Confidence is very attractive

This photograph reminds me of the times when we move from trying to become something, to embracing it fully. When we move from doubting or being insecure and then begin to own our abilities.

To me this puppy has progressed from learning to walk on his leash to knowing how to do it. He is owning it… and boy does he look good … and happy!

What a great lesson for all of us.

He is radiating joy in what he is doing and feeling good about himself.

He isn’t needing validation saying “Look at me.”

He isn’t doubting himself saying  “I’m not sure if I am any good.”

He’s saying “I am me.”

This kind of “knowing” self confidence is so attractive – to others and to ourselves.

Knowing who you are – your strengths, needs and core values – are the foundations for building confidence, and becoming attractive to yourself and others.

* Stillness of Tao

 

stillness of tao

Seek the reality of emptiness and stillness,
The great constants of existence.
Though life abounds, its creations rise and fall.
Eventually all return, in their own way, to Tao.

To return to Tao is to embrace stillness,
The relentless way of nature.
The flow of nature does not change.
To see its constancy is to know the intricacies of the ordinary,
Revealing patterns of the grand.

To ignore this constant is to mistake the eternal for the mundane,
Bringing unharmonious selfish action and discord,
Pathologies to humanity.

Accepting the constant means opening the mind.
This leads to compassion and impartiality,
A respect for all that Tao provides and takes away,
And an understanding that all return to the ultimate reality of Tao.

Life is fleeting, Tao is constant.*

Lao Tzu

There are no words for me to add to this today. This says it all.

Namaste

*Braun Jr., John; Tzu, Lao; von Bargen, Julian; Warkentin, David (2012-12-02). Tao Te Ching (Kindle Locations 269-283). . Kindle Edition.

* Mantra for Today – join in

I have a white board full of short inspirations and reminders that work well for me at work and in life.  This mantra is for when I find myself being critical and holding back.

Why not put this one in your pocket and take it along with you today 🙂

 

Notice judgment

Let it go

Open heart

Join in

❤

* Tao 101

Tao

“Life is fleeting,

Tao is constant:

An eternal emptiness full of bursting”

                                                                                                              Lao Tzu

Over the years I have come across many quotes from Lao Tzu that really resonated with me. Its taken me a while, but thanks to Kindle I now have the Tao te Ching as my bedside reading. This translation brings Tao into context for the world we live in today. It makes it accessible and easy to grasp.

Like Tao 101.

“Tao could be described as the ultimate essence of existence. However, once you find yourself in possession of a basic knowledge of Tao, you will quickly realize how silly it would be to attempt to define it…

While this mysterious oneness of which we are all a part may be impossible to understand or experience in its entirety, we spend our entire lives interacting with its physical manifestations. While everyday things like rocks, candy, shoes, etc. may seem mundane and simple, they are nevertheless an inseparable part of this great mystery of which we are all a part.”*

We interact with its physical manifestation and are all connected to the mystery… 🙂

I look forward to sharing more words of wisdom as I spend some time hanging out here.

*Translation of Tao Te Ching by Braun Jr., John; von Bargen, Julian; Warkentin, David (Kindle Locations 1097-1098).  Kindle Edition.