32 things i'm grateful for
during 12-hour drive from dc to montreal today, i enjoyed making a large dent in my ever-growing stack of unread magazines, journals and papers. i read an article in this new great magazine, worthwhile, of someone using their birthday to reflect on all they were grateful for. what a perfect way to celebrate another year! considering it is now officially my 32nd birthday, i reflected on 32 things that i'm extremely grateful for (in no particular order):
- tim, my oh-so-supportive beau
- louis, my oh-so-darling pug
- the tranquil space team, all who have contributed to making tranquil space what it is today
- the tranquil space community, especially those students who began with me in my living room
- my yoga practice
- smell of lavender
- silk eyepillows
- soft sheets
- the women's movement
- my childhood camp fire group
- lush bath bomb filled bathing experiences
- milk chocolate with caramel
- smiling strangers
- the olive garden, one of my fave dining treats
- friends
- leopard print
- my home
- the color pink
- the new magazine pink
- down duvets
- champagne
- chamomile tea
- living in the US
- my treo phone
- my rock star 93-year-old gramma who e-mails
- mum and pops
- my education
- the book the artist's way
- my large library of inspiring texts
- smell and spirit of christmas
- my fave feline bonnard
- wireless internet
creating this list was fun and allowed me to reflect on all the amazing things i can express gratitude for. so many lessons learned, so many people i've met, so many blessings! thank YOU for sharing with me on this journey in person or via this blog. xoxo
- tim, my oh-so-supportive beau
- louis, my oh-so-darling pug
- the tranquil space team, all who have contributed to making tranquil space what it is today
- the tranquil space community, especially those students who began with me in my living room
- my yoga practice
- smell of lavender
- silk eyepillows
- soft sheets
- the women's movement
- my childhood camp fire group
- lush bath bomb filled bathing experiences
- milk chocolate with caramel
- smiling strangers
- the olive garden, one of my fave dining treats
- friends
- leopard print
- my home
- the color pink
- the new magazine pink
- down duvets
- champagne
- chamomile tea
- living in the US
- my treo phone
- my rock star 93-year-old gramma who e-mails
- mum and pops
- my education
- the book the artist's way
- my large library of inspiring texts
- smell and spirit of christmas
- my fave feline bonnard
- wireless internet
creating this list was fun and allowed me to reflect on all the amazing things i can express gratitude for. so many lessons learned, so many people i've met, so many blessings! thank YOU for sharing with me on this journey in person or via this blog. xoxo
posted by kimberly wilson @ 3:39 AM |
0 comments
Sunday, June 26, 2005
the 4 agreements
A friend recently reminded me of a great book that I’d read years ago, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. It is a practical guide to personal freedom and corresponds so beautifully with the yogic path. I’d like to share these four agreements, how they relate to your yoga practice, and encourage the power of incorporating these into your life.
The first agreement is "Be Impeccable with Your Word” and the concept is similar to yoga’s satya (truth) principle that is one of the yamas. The author encourages us to begin by speaking gently to ourselves and to observe how we communicate with others. He says, “Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” As yoga practitioners we are human AND we are yogis, so mistakes will be made. However, practicing yoga with integrity means that we speak and live with integrity. Begin to practice being an observer of what you say and how you say it. In our high-tech world, this now goes beyond verbal communication but also e-mail and other forms of written communication.
The second agreement is “Don’t Take Anything Personally.” The author claims that, “Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.” This is the one agreement that I both love and hate. I absolutely believe that other people’s reactions are often out of our control and come from their own struggles. However, I also believe if you continue to have the same issues with people, this becomes worthy of self-study, svadhyaya. As so eloquently put in Jon Kabat-Zinn’s book, Wherever You Go, There You Are, you are the only constant factor in your numerous interactions. If you continue to run from situations, people, or experiences, expecting things to be different, you may spend your whole life running. This is where the yoga niyama svadhyaya comes in -- a little bit of self-reflection can go a long way to stop these patterns. The author does a wonderful job here reminding readers that people operate based on their own experiences and it is best not to internalize that. I like to go one step further to encourage a little bit of personal responsibility through awareness of patterns through self-study.
The third agreement is “Don’t Make False Assumptions.” I liken this agreement to pratyahara, the fifth step on the eight-limbed yogic path. Pratyahara is the conscious withdrawal of the senses, choosing to consciously react or not react to stimuli. We all have those moments of gut reaction when we say or do something in the moment that we regret almost immediately. The author encourages clear and concise communication, something that is emphasized heavily in the Tranquil Space teacher training. Ask for exactly what you want in as few words as possible – this avoids needless rambling or talking in circles. The author writes, “Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama.” How many of us have tortured ourselves over something that we thought someone meant when we were totally off base? Assumptions involve jumping to conclusions over our own perceptions of what we would mean if we had said that, however, it is always a great lesson in humility to realize that not everyone thinks or reacts as we do. Really?
The fourth agreement is “Always Do Your Best.” This concept is similar to the yoga niyama isvara pranidanah -- acting as best we can and then letting go of attachment to the outcome of our actions. The author writes, “Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.” Years ago when I would complain to a friend about an attorney that I worked with (in my former paralegal days), my friend would remind me that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have. I always try to remember that when I get frustrated as most people are operating the best they can with the tools they have. Isn’t that powerful? By showing up each day with a clean canvas on which to paint your life, and putting your best foot forward in each situation, you will live a life with few regrets.
These four agreements are very powerful, especially coupled with the yogic principles. As yogis, we are striving to lead a more conscious lifestyle. Blended with our innate humanness, there is always a struggle but I’d like to think that those of us pursing a yoga lifestyle are doing so in a non-pretentious, non-dogmatic but somewhat enlightened way simply because we have more tools – asana and beyond. Choose an agreement and the corresponding yogic principle to play with each week of July. Practice being an observer of yourself, and watch as your world begins to transform through these basic principles.
The first agreement is "Be Impeccable with Your Word” and the concept is similar to yoga’s satya (truth) principle that is one of the yamas. The author encourages us to begin by speaking gently to ourselves and to observe how we communicate with others. He says, “Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” As yoga practitioners we are human AND we are yogis, so mistakes will be made. However, practicing yoga with integrity means that we speak and live with integrity. Begin to practice being an observer of what you say and how you say it. In our high-tech world, this now goes beyond verbal communication but also e-mail and other forms of written communication.
The second agreement is “Don’t Take Anything Personally.” The author claims that, “Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.” This is the one agreement that I both love and hate. I absolutely believe that other people’s reactions are often out of our control and come from their own struggles. However, I also believe if you continue to have the same issues with people, this becomes worthy of self-study, svadhyaya. As so eloquently put in Jon Kabat-Zinn’s book, Wherever You Go, There You Are, you are the only constant factor in your numerous interactions. If you continue to run from situations, people, or experiences, expecting things to be different, you may spend your whole life running. This is where the yoga niyama svadhyaya comes in -- a little bit of self-reflection can go a long way to stop these patterns. The author does a wonderful job here reminding readers that people operate based on their own experiences and it is best not to internalize that. I like to go one step further to encourage a little bit of personal responsibility through awareness of patterns through self-study.
The third agreement is “Don’t Make False Assumptions.” I liken this agreement to pratyahara, the fifth step on the eight-limbed yogic path. Pratyahara is the conscious withdrawal of the senses, choosing to consciously react or not react to stimuli. We all have those moments of gut reaction when we say or do something in the moment that we regret almost immediately. The author encourages clear and concise communication, something that is emphasized heavily in the Tranquil Space teacher training. Ask for exactly what you want in as few words as possible – this avoids needless rambling or talking in circles. The author writes, “Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama.” How many of us have tortured ourselves over something that we thought someone meant when we were totally off base? Assumptions involve jumping to conclusions over our own perceptions of what we would mean if we had said that, however, it is always a great lesson in humility to realize that not everyone thinks or reacts as we do. Really?
The fourth agreement is “Always Do Your Best.” This concept is similar to the yoga niyama isvara pranidanah -- acting as best we can and then letting go of attachment to the outcome of our actions. The author writes, “Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.” Years ago when I would complain to a friend about an attorney that I worked with (in my former paralegal days), my friend would remind me that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have. I always try to remember that when I get frustrated as most people are operating the best they can with the tools they have. Isn’t that powerful? By showing up each day with a clean canvas on which to paint your life, and putting your best foot forward in each situation, you will live a life with few regrets.
These four agreements are very powerful, especially coupled with the yogic principles. As yogis, we are striving to lead a more conscious lifestyle. Blended with our innate humanness, there is always a struggle but I’d like to think that those of us pursing a yoga lifestyle are doing so in a non-pretentious, non-dogmatic but somewhat enlightened way simply because we have more tools – asana and beyond. Choose an agreement and the corresponding yogic principle to play with each week of July. Practice being an observer of yourself, and watch as your world begins to transform through these basic principles.
posted by kimberly wilson @ 2:31 PM |
0 comments
Friday, June 17, 2005
inspiring quote
"to laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest criticism and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty and find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - that is to have succeeded." ~ ralph waldo emerson
wow, i just came across this when searching for a new quote to add to a page on the tranquil space website. isn't this truly what life is all about? a fabulous tool for reflection as we approach the weekend and celebration of fathers/positive parental figures everywhere.
may we all leave a positive mark in small, subtle ways every day.
wow, i just came across this when searching for a new quote to add to a page on the tranquil space website. isn't this truly what life is all about? a fabulous tool for reflection as we approach the weekend and celebration of fathers/positive parental figures everywhere.
may we all leave a positive mark in small, subtle ways every day.
posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:25 PM |
0 comments
Thursday, June 16, 2005
seeking serenity
When I began practicing yoga almost a decade ago, I was seeking an outlet that would bring serenity, self-discovery, and a svelte physique. Little did I know the yoga journey that lay ahead after my first class one early morning overlooking the snowcapped mountains of Colorado. Yoga has become a way of life. I’ve been a seeker since early childhood when I gained pleasure flipping through the pages of my mother’s “Dear Abby” compilation book looking for answers to my third grade struggles. This mentality has followed me into adulthood. While others love escaping with a good fiction beach book, I take solace in non-fiction books proclaiming to help me discover my purpose, live my best life, and build a socially conscious business. While working at a law firm with hope of changing the world one trademark at a time, I found that my lunch hours were spent in the park reading self-help, my evenings were spent learning yoga, and my weekends were consumed with visions of turning my one-bedroom apartment into a yoga studio. I continue to search for answers regularly while on the yoga mat practicing or off the yoga mat living my life.
posted by kimberly wilson @ 12:46 AM |
0 comments
Friday, June 03, 2005
midwest yoga conference musings
day 1 of the last tradeshow and yoga travels for a few months. i'm getting used to hotel rooms, my beloved treo that allows me to text, e-mail and touch base while away, and nostalgic thoughts of actually taking a vacation. but, reality brings me back and, i must confess, that this is a great place to be. just heard rodney yee speak for the second time in a few weeks since i've done 2 tradeshows at conferences very close to each other. i was less moved this time (may have to do with a slight case of exhaustion) but inspired nonetheless.
the topic was on the abundance of being and he reminded us that the US is 5% of the world's population but we use 33% of the world's resources. wow! we are a country of consumption. he said a few things that i wrote down (got this habit from my mama during church sermons growing up). he read a buddhist quote on how thoughts become deeds, deeds become habits, and habits become character. another wow! isn't it amazing to realize that the tiny seed grows into a big tree just like our thoughts grow into and determine our character. when was the last time you stopped to take note of your thoughts? they just happen, right? but whoa, watching them is almost scary. he encouraged us to do that through meditation. i've tried it periodically. it feels good but i feel like i need paper and pen next to me as the to-do lists never stop. yes, clearly i need meditation more that most. maybe we can start a meditation support group! ;) anwyway, he told us to sit with the pain and angst that comes up. isn't it so much easier to avoid this pain/confrontation with self through overeating, overworking, overanything rather than just being?
he read another quote that said, "if you're not happy, you're not grateful." this takes us back to the topic of abundance. simply being is relishing in abundance. we have so much, why can't we be grateful? it is so much easier to see what is wrong. so, i'm going to take my advice from the 5-tips blog posting and really think each night before i go to bed about one thing that happened during the day that i am grateful for. what a fabulous way to drift off into slumber! starting tonight - i am grateful that i met a studio owner tonight from ohio who read my feature on ladies who launch last summer and has been reading my blog, and thanked me for being an inspiration. if that isn't what this work is about, i don't know what is. thank you sandy for introducing yourself and resonating with what i share.
the topic was on the abundance of being and he reminded us that the US is 5% of the world's population but we use 33% of the world's resources. wow! we are a country of consumption. he said a few things that i wrote down (got this habit from my mama during church sermons growing up). he read a buddhist quote on how thoughts become deeds, deeds become habits, and habits become character. another wow! isn't it amazing to realize that the tiny seed grows into a big tree just like our thoughts grow into and determine our character. when was the last time you stopped to take note of your thoughts? they just happen, right? but whoa, watching them is almost scary. he encouraged us to do that through meditation. i've tried it periodically. it feels good but i feel like i need paper and pen next to me as the to-do lists never stop. yes, clearly i need meditation more that most. maybe we can start a meditation support group! ;) anwyway, he told us to sit with the pain and angst that comes up. isn't it so much easier to avoid this pain/confrontation with self through overeating, overworking, overanything rather than just being?
he read another quote that said, "if you're not happy, you're not grateful." this takes us back to the topic of abundance. simply being is relishing in abundance. we have so much, why can't we be grateful? it is so much easier to see what is wrong. so, i'm going to take my advice from the 5-tips blog posting and really think each night before i go to bed about one thing that happened during the day that i am grateful for. what a fabulous way to drift off into slumber! starting tonight - i am grateful that i met a studio owner tonight from ohio who read my feature on ladies who launch last summer and has been reading my blog, and thanked me for being an inspiration. if that isn't what this work is about, i don't know what is. thank you sandy for introducing yourself and resonating with what i share.
posted by kimberly wilson @ 1:55 AM |
0 comments
