Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The Power of Conscious Choice

VIBRANT HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK~ The Power of Conscious Choice

Namaste All~ Tis the season for unending distraction, events, social gatherings , cooking, overeating, shopping, traveling,meltdowns and STRESS ...... oooops wait a minute! Is this what I really want to choose in honoring the season of Light and Love??? Pull the brake handle for a minute, Take a breath and rewind back to start.

All conscious living begins with intention . Stating to yourself clearly & with commitment how you intend to use your energy day by day and especially now during the holiday season will determine if you create the experiences that nourish you or drain you. If you do not take the time to choose how you really want to celebrate these sacred days then the culture will choose for you and that's often a big recipe for stress. 

Often when we get caught up in the momentum of a holiday season we lose sight and forget that we have the power of conscious choice. We can choose very specifically what we will participate in and what we will not. We can choose how we spend our time, resources and energy on activities that we believe in or activities that drain us, energetically, spiritually and at this time of year financially. To go into debt to purchase items for family or friends as an expression of your love is very skewed. What are some easier more creative ways for you to express your love authentically without creating an exchange of debt for yourself be it financial or energetic. People really do appreciate our time and attention more than anything that comes in a box. 

Part of living a yogic life is to make a commitment to live in alignment with the inherent ethical laws of nature. The first one called AHIMSA means non-harming. I find at this time of the year especially practicing AHIMSA keeps me attuned to the rhythm and balance of life. First principle of any choice we make, Do No Harm. If its exhausting you to run around to multiple events, shopping until you are stressed and irritable, buying things that may have questionable manufacturing practices from countries that do not honor the welfare of their workers, again, we have the power to choose and with the internet now, there are so many other positive options like non-profit sites that do offer thank you gifts for your donations or gifting in a name of a loved one as the benefit of your contribution. 

Changing some holiday habits at first may actually feel like stress as you are shifting your focus from a standard set by someone or something else to one set by you and your deeper convictions and that my friends is the key to living authentically in alignment with your sacred Self.
About 12 years ago I began a tradition of offering a FREE Winter Solstice Yoga class as my way to honor the sacred time of solstice and to open my doors to the community and offer my gifts to have an experience that helps remind them of the true blessings of this time of year. This years class will be Sunday Dec. 21 4-6pm . This is one way I can extend myself and share the love.

Every one of us is a living spark of the Divine endowed with creative gifts. Sharing that aspect of who we really are with each other is truly in the spirit of Light and Love. I hope I can inspire you to share your creative light this season. By giving of our time, attention and hearts we help to embody the power of conscious choice and help to amplify the energy of unity within ourselves, our families, communities and the world at large.

I will leave you with a quote from Pema Chodron,author of dozens of books on Tibetan Buddhist teachings of mindfulness and the only American female, fully ordained Tibetan nun who runs the Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. Pema is the embodiment of true wisdom that flows from a conscious heart and mind.
"If you have embarked on this journey of self-reflection, you may be at a place that everyone, sooner or later, experiences on the spiritual path. After a while it seems like almost every moment of your life you’re there, where you realize you have a choice. You have a choice whether to open or close, whether to hold on or let go, whether to harden or soften, whether to hold your seat or strike out. That choice is presented to you again and again and again."

Namaste & Blessings for making Conscious Choices this Holiday Season.
 Much Love & Light to You and Yours
 Anne Christine

Photo: VIBRANT HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK~ The Power of Conscious Choice

  Namaste All~ Tis the season for unending distraction, events, social gatherings , cooking, overeating, shopping, traveling, STRESS ...... oooops wait a minute is this what I really want to choose in honoring the season of Light and Love??? Pull the brake handle for a minute, Take  a breath and rewind back to start. 

All conscious living begins with intention . Stating to yourself clearly & with commitment how you intend to use your energy day by day and especially now during the holiday season will determine if you create the experiences that nourish you or drain you.  If you do not take the time to choose how you really want to celebrate these sacred days then the culture will choose for you and that's often a big recipe for stress. 
 Often when we get caught up in the momentum of a holiday season we lose sight and forget that we have the power of conscious choice. We can choose very specifically what we will participate in and what we will not. We can choose how we spend our time, resources and energy on activities that we believe in  or activities that drain us, energetically, spiritually and at this time of year financially. To go into debt to purchase items for family or friends as an expression of your love is very skewed. What are some easier more creative ways for you to express your love authentically without creating an exchange of debt for yourself be it financial  or energetic. People really do appreciate our time and attention more than anything that comes in a box. 
 Part of living a yogic life is to make a commitment to live in alignment with the inherent ethical laws of nature. The first one called AHIMSA means non-harming. I find at this time of the year especially practicing AHIMSA keeps me attuned to the rhythm and balance of life. First principle of any choice we make, Do No Harm. If its exhausting you to run around to multiple events, shopping until you are stressed and irritable, buying things that may have questionable manufacturing practices from countries that do not honor the welfare of their workers, again, we have the power to choose and with the internet now, there are so many other positive options  like non-profit sites that do offer thank you gifts for your donations or gifting in a name of a loved one as the benefit of your contribution. 
 Changing some holiday habits at first may actually feel like stress as you are shifting your focus from a standard set by someone or something else to one set by you and your deeper convictions and that my friends is the key to living authentically in alignment with your sacred Self.
 About 12 years ago I began a tradition of offering a FREE Winter Solstice Yoga class as my way to  honor the sacred time of solstice and to open my doors to the community and  offer my gifts to have an experience that helps remind them of the true blessings of this time of year.  This years class will be Sunday Dec. 21 4-6pm .

 Every one of us is a living spark of the Divine endowed with creative gifts. Sharing that aspect of who we really are with each other is truly in the spirit of Light and Love.  I hope I can inspire you to share your creative light this season. By giving of our time, attention and hearts we help to embody the power of conscious choice and help to amplify the energy of unity.
 I will leave you with a quote from Pema Chodron,author of dozens of books on Tibetan Buddhist teachings of mindfulness and  the only American female, fully ordained  Tibetan nun who runs the Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. Pema is the embodiment of true wisdom that flows from a conscious heart and mind. 
"If you have embarked on this journey of self-reflection, you may be at a place that everyone, sooner or later, experiences on the spiritual path. After a while it seems like almost every moment of your life you’re there, where you realize you have a choice. You have a choice whether to open or close, whether to hold on or let go, whether to harden or soften, whether to hold your seat or strike out. That choice is presented to you again and again and again."

 Namaste & Blessings for making Conscious Choices this Holiday Season.   Much Love Anne Christine

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