Take as long as you like to simply breathe in this way, in this place. Every once in a while recalling or perhaps intentionally meditating on, “Smile journey, smile trust life, the happy and the sad alike!” :-)
Why Do We Want to Enjoy the Journey?
- “Smile journey:” Relax. Why do we want to relax?
- There have been many tests, interview, relationships, social events, athletics, and countless other experiences in my life that have been uncomfortable for me, which have turned out quite disappointing. Those who did well during these times made this thing, which I had invested a great deal of time in worrying or studying or both, seem easy and effortless. What was their secret, what separated us. It has taken me much longer to realize this than I would have liked, but it is not such a surprising factor. They did not worry, or at least as much as I had. They were relaxed within the experience whatever it was. This relaxation let them enjoy themselves during times of change, where a rigid person holding onto worry, could not adapt as well or at all. They had fun and succeeded, what could be better than that! Do you have trouble relaxing in your own life? Is there a certain situation, which is particularly difficult for you to handle? Relax, we can do it! :-)
- Sarah Klein, senior editor for Health & Fitness and certified personal trainer, gives “10 Health Benefits Of Relaxation” including “heart health, guarding against colds, boosting memory, lower risk of stroke, relief from depression, better decision making, healthy food choices, reducing acne, happier moods, and possibly delaying breast cancer.”
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/stress-awareness-day-relaxation-benefits_n_1424820.html
- There have been many tests, interview, relationships, social events, athletics, and countless other experiences in my life that have been uncomfortable for me, which have turned out quite disappointing. Those who did well during these times made this thing, which I had invested a great deal of time in worrying or studying or both, seem easy and effortless. What was their secret, what separated us. It has taken me much longer to realize this than I would have liked, but it is not such a surprising factor. They did not worry, or at least as much as I had. They were relaxed within the experience whatever it was. This relaxation let them enjoy themselves during times of change, where a rigid person holding onto worry, could not adapt as well or at all. They had fun and succeeded, what could be better than that! Do you have trouble relaxing in your own life? Is there a certain situation, which is particularly difficult for you to handle? Relax, we can do it! :-)
- “Smile trust life:” Move forward. Why do we want to move forward?
- It is easy, or somewhat easy for me to understand something theoretically like relaxing to enjoy myself and perform better. However, when it comes to actually sticking my foot out into the great unknown of failure and success, I want to pull my foot back and sit by the side of the pool. I don't know if the water will be pleasant until I actually take a dip myself. I can listen to others all I like, but, unless I actually take a step into the water myself because I know it is the right course to take, nothing will happen happy or sad. Who knows what kind of games I could play, and fun experiences I might have? Who knows, the water may be cold, enlivening my body with the feeling of life, and motivating me to swim around till I am warm? Nothing will happen until I trust. Are you standing by the side of a job or a relationship or event that you really want to take part in? Let's jump in, and look for the best! :-)
- “Why You Need to Take a Leap of Faith,” your dream come true is waiting for you on the other side! Jeremy Statton, writer and orthopedic surgeon, presents a compelling case for mustering your courage and taking a step into the unknown.
- http://www.jeremystatton.com/leap-of-faith
- It is easy, or somewhat easy for me to understand something theoretically like relaxing to enjoy myself and perform better. However, when it comes to actually sticking my foot out into the great unknown of failure and success, I want to pull my foot back and sit by the side of the pool. I don't know if the water will be pleasant until I actually take a dip myself. I can listen to others all I like, but, unless I actually take a step into the water myself because I know it is the right course to take, nothing will happen happy or sad. Who knows what kind of games I could play, and fun experiences I might have? Who knows, the water may be cold, enlivening my body with the feeling of life, and motivating me to swim around till I am warm? Nothing will happen until I trust. Are you standing by the side of a job or a relationship or event that you really want to take part in? Let's jump in, and look for the best! :-)
- “The happy and the sad alike:” Overcome. Why do we want to overcome?
- I have had a lot of difficulty letting go of my feelings of being treated unfairly or ignored in my life despite my best efforts of trying to stay safe and cautious. Things have happened to me that I have liked, and not always liked. I have been happy and sad throughout my life, tending to focus more on the sadness, unfortunately. The truth is there is a good mixture of these events, and depending on who we are we might have more of the one or the other. But I have found this is really just a matter of perspective. I looked for an event to be sad, and sure enough it became sad. For instance, I got a nasty virus on our family computers lately, that has trouble my family quite a bit. It might seem like a sad event, but there was also all the communication, forgiveness, thankfulness, and asking for help from others that it opened up. Those experiences are invaluable, not sold in any stores, or taught at any universities. Is there a sadness that surrounds an experience in your life? Is there any way that it has brought happiness directly or indirectly into you life? Let's try to change our perspective for the best, look for the Loving experiences that result! :-)
- Sandra Pawula, a mindfulness, meditation, and stress reduction writer and instructor, explains “Why Sadness is the Key to True Happiness” with 3 very insightful benefits of experiencing sadness including self awareness, empathy, and the ability to let go.
- http://alwayswellwithin.com/2011/03/26/why-sadness-is-the-key-to-true-happiness/
- I have had a lot of difficulty letting go of my feelings of being treated unfairly or ignored in my life despite my best efforts of trying to stay safe and cautious. Things have happened to me that I have liked, and not always liked. I have been happy and sad throughout my life, tending to focus more on the sadness, unfortunately. The truth is there is a good mixture of these events, and depending on who we are we might have more of the one or the other. But I have found this is really just a matter of perspective. I looked for an event to be sad, and sure enough it became sad. For instance, I got a nasty virus on our family computers lately, that has trouble my family quite a bit. It might seem like a sad event, but there was also all the communication, forgiveness, thankfulness, and asking for help from others that it opened up. Those experiences are invaluable, not sold in any stores, or taught at any universities. Is there a sadness that surrounds an experience in your life? Is there any way that it has brought happiness directly or indirectly into you life? Let's try to change our perspective for the best, look for the Loving experiences that result! :-)
How Do We Enjoy the Journey?
- “Smile journey:” Relax. How do we relax?
- “The phrase let God and let go,” comes to mind. Also I am reminded of the yoga yama or observance aparigraha or non-hoarding. I tend to hold on to feelings of being comfortable, getting what I want, feelings of pride, doing something exemplary well, feelings of hurt, which is my pride feeling like it has been treated unfairly. I wouldn't say that I am that different from most people in that we all know what it is like to have selfish feelings. In the news we can read about crimes of comfort, stealing because there is not enough to feel safe, crimes of pride, murdering and violence because there is a feeling of needed justice for oneself, and crimes against the self like suicide and voluntary numbing, drugs and escapism to make one unaware of their own feelings. I would considered these examples the worst case scenario, but everyday that we hold onto something that has negative feelings attached to it is one day closer to the worst. I simply have to let go of these feelings, and dispose of my store house of hurt to find ease within. This is one of the most helpful aspects of living a life with a religious or spiritual practice like Christianity or yoga. There are many ways to relax, but they all involve letting go of what doesn't allow us to do so. Let's find that thing that we are holding onto, let it go, and relax in the joy of being alive!
- “Learn Relaxation Techniques,” with expert contributor Karen Lawson, MD, provides us with several methods to start to let go of mental suffering in stressful situations including mindful relaxation, breathe techniques, imagery, body exercise, and biofeedback.
- http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/health/stress-mastery/learn-relaxation-techniques
- “The phrase let God and let go,” comes to mind. Also I am reminded of the yoga yama or observance aparigraha or non-hoarding. I tend to hold on to feelings of being comfortable, getting what I want, feelings of pride, doing something exemplary well, feelings of hurt, which is my pride feeling like it has been treated unfairly. I wouldn't say that I am that different from most people in that we all know what it is like to have selfish feelings. In the news we can read about crimes of comfort, stealing because there is not enough to feel safe, crimes of pride, murdering and violence because there is a feeling of needed justice for oneself, and crimes against the self like suicide and voluntary numbing, drugs and escapism to make one unaware of their own feelings. I would considered these examples the worst case scenario, but everyday that we hold onto something that has negative feelings attached to it is one day closer to the worst. I simply have to let go of these feelings, and dispose of my store house of hurt to find ease within. This is one of the most helpful aspects of living a life with a religious or spiritual practice like Christianity or yoga. There are many ways to relax, but they all involve letting go of what doesn't allow us to do so. Let's find that thing that we are holding onto, let it go, and relax in the joy of being alive!
- “Smile trust life:” Move Forward. How do we move forward?
- I move forward a little more everyday when I trust life. It doesn't require anything other than moving in the direction that I am pointed by life. I have been blocked many times by worry and stress of is this safe, is this something I can do, is this going to cost too much money, etc. Letting the process take me, rather than controlling the process is something I have never been good at doing. It is only through relaxing that I can find the courage to follow my heart, following what I know to be true. Whenever I am feeling tense or nervous, I know it is time to pray, give thanks, breathe, meditate, perform some yoga postures, perform a kind act for another, spend time with another learning to appreciate them, but not to feed myself with entertainment that promotes any illusion of control. When that feeling of wanting to hold on pokes out in my mind like a painful thorn, I know it is time to trust the life that has been put before me to lead me through the problems and joys alike. Let's simply trust life, and know that is enough!
- Micheal T. Greenwood, Ph.D, professor of management and entrepreneurship at Fitchburg State University, shares 5 ways to “Let go of fear and move forward with courage,” including changing your routines, asking yourself why not, making yourself known, celebrating your milestones, and showing willingness to pitch in. Acting in courage starts with changing ourselves, and results in changing the world!
- http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/business/ci_27917011/your-success-let-go-fear-and-move-forward
- I move forward a little more everyday when I trust life. It doesn't require anything other than moving in the direction that I am pointed by life. I have been blocked many times by worry and stress of is this safe, is this something I can do, is this going to cost too much money, etc. Letting the process take me, rather than controlling the process is something I have never been good at doing. It is only through relaxing that I can find the courage to follow my heart, following what I know to be true. Whenever I am feeling tense or nervous, I know it is time to pray, give thanks, breathe, meditate, perform some yoga postures, perform a kind act for another, spend time with another learning to appreciate them, but not to feed myself with entertainment that promotes any illusion of control. When that feeling of wanting to hold on pokes out in my mind like a painful thorn, I know it is time to trust the life that has been put before me to lead me through the problems and joys alike. Let's simply trust life, and know that is enough!
- “The happy and sad alike:” Overcome. How do we overcome?
- After many years struggling to achieve a paycheck and happiness of some fanciful ideal, and coming up short, I have learned, I am not in control! From a Christian perspective, I have the understanding that there is a higher power at work, that everything happens in God's time. I can trust that He is bringing what I truly need into my life, to bring me closer to an understanding of Love of myself and others that will fill the void I feel inside. Another way to look at why happy and sad things happen to us is through “The Law of Attraction.” You could think of this as a new age philosophy, but there is also a parable from Jesus, “The Parable of the Talents,” which describes much the similar phenomenon. Simply, we receive in both happiness and sadness by how we live our lives. If I live by spreading happiness, being generous, I will be shown this in return, and the reverse is true also. However, if we only see this in a selfish light, people that die tragically, suffer from cancer, and other unfortunate sadness can not be explained. At this point, I find that I can only find reassurance in knowing that we are all meant to find true unconditional Love in our lives as the highest reward. Sometimes situations that appear sad, work toward a greater happiness like bringing people closer together in service and support of others. This is the true reward that Christianity, new age, and yoga, point to. If we can let go of that fat pay check, that I still find myself wanting at times, and only desire Love, our sadness might be turned to dancing!
- Greater Good, online magazine of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, mentions “4 Important Lessons from 'Inside Out' to Discuss with Kids.” The lessons of “happiness is not just about joy, don't try to force happiness, sadness is vital to our well being, and mindfully embrace tough emotions” is in no way limited to just a younger audience's benefit. These great lessons remind us that it is important for everyone to learn about balancing and accepting their emotions, both happy and sad, if we truly want to experience a real sense of true happiness in Love. :-)
- http://www.goodnet.org/articles/4-important-lessons-from-inside-out-to-discuss-kids#
- After many years struggling to achieve a paycheck and happiness of some fanciful ideal, and coming up short, I have learned, I am not in control! From a Christian perspective, I have the understanding that there is a higher power at work, that everything happens in God's time. I can trust that He is bringing what I truly need into my life, to bring me closer to an understanding of Love of myself and others that will fill the void I feel inside. Another way to look at why happy and sad things happen to us is through “The Law of Attraction.” You could think of this as a new age philosophy, but there is also a parable from Jesus, “The Parable of the Talents,” which describes much the similar phenomenon. Simply, we receive in both happiness and sadness by how we live our lives. If I live by spreading happiness, being generous, I will be shown this in return, and the reverse is true also. However, if we only see this in a selfish light, people that die tragically, suffer from cancer, and other unfortunate sadness can not be explained. At this point, I find that I can only find reassurance in knowing that we are all meant to find true unconditional Love in our lives as the highest reward. Sometimes situations that appear sad, work toward a greater happiness like bringing people closer together in service and support of others. This is the true reward that Christianity, new age, and yoga, point to. If we can let go of that fat pay check, that I still find myself wanting at times, and only desire Love, our sadness might be turned to dancing!
How Gyan Mudra and meditation can Help Us Enjoy the Journey!
Gyan/Jnana/Chin (wisdom) Mudra (hand gesture) is a way to help focus and calm the mind during the practice of meditation. The thumb and the index finger are lightly touching, symbolizing a union between the Supreme Creator, represented by the thumb, and the true Self within, individualization of God, represented by the index finger. This joining can be seen as the drawing out of our full potential. The other three fingers are held out straight. Each represents a part of our journey to come back into union with God. The middle finger represents Satta Guna (light, purity, clarity of mind, and understanding). The ring finger represents Rajas (action, passion, and movement). The little finger represents Tamas (inertia, dullness, inaction, and confusion).
Benefits of Gyan Mudra
- Calms the mind
- Focuses the mind
- Promotes deep relaxation of the mind and body
- Helps one feel grounded and safe
- Eases tension and depression
- Has positive effects on the nervous system and pituitary gland
- Keeps the body steady
- Allows for long periods of meditation
Technique
- Find a nice quiet space where you will not be disturbed for a time, and take a seated position in whatever way feels the most comfortable for you. I will include two examples.
- Last week we looked at Vajrasana or Thuderbolt/Diamond pose. Here is the link to the article, which explains more about Vajrasana, including how to perform it. http://forselflove.weebly.com/blog/-how-to-love-yourself-by-finding-the-diamond-in-the-rough
- Another sitting pose, one that can be fairly gentle is easy pose Sukhasana or Easy Pose, also referred to as sitting crossed-legged
- Sit on the floor with your right or left foot tucked in between the inner thigh and calf and under the calf of the other leg. Tuck the other foot under the calf of the first leg. Here is a good example of how to get into the pose demonstrated by Adriene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLvJD7iKVhw
- Sit on the floor with your right or left foot tucked in between the inner thigh and calf and under the calf of the other leg. Tuck the other foot under the calf of the first leg. Here is a good example of how to get into the pose demonstrated by Adriene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLvJD7iKVhw
- Place your hands face up on your knees, arms straight or bent.
- Lightly touch your thumbs and index fingers together. Straighten the rest of your fingers.
- CAUTION: When breathing, above all make sure you are not making this a contest in any way. Relaxation is the only goal. Be careful not to strain your breathe in any way. You could severely injure yourself if you ignore warnings of pain and discomfort from practicing pranayama (controlled breathing).
- Breathe as deeply as you are able to. Inhale for a count of 4 and exhale for a count of 4 if it is comfortable. You can lengthen or shorten your breathe as you like. Continue as long as you prefer. Remember to let go and relax. Close your eyes if you would like.
- Recommended feel good practice: First, only follow these suggestions if they help you relax more. Remember the goal is relaxation. Simply breathing is enough in many cases, but these might deepen your experience.
- Reflect on and feel the connection to all creation through your breathe and from the gesture of your hands. Remember that you are being guided and protected by the Source of all life. You are connected and safe beyond anything that could happen to you on this earthly plane. Recall what the other fingers represent: clarity, action, and confusion. As you are part of the creative Source, you are constantly going through this process of creation withing yourself, and only through recalling this greater purpose of unconditional creative Love my you overcome sadness and remember you are safe no matter what occurs in life.
- As you breathe try thinking to yourself the following sentence with each breath. “Smile journey” inhale. “1” exhale. “Smile trust life.” inhale. “2” exhale. “The happy and sad.” inhale. “3” exhale. “Alike.” inhale. “4” exhale.
- Smiling will help you relax even more.
- Say a little prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of relaxation if you would like and slowly blink open your eyes. It might be nice to sit for a time, in order to reorient yourself to the light and your surroundings.
Do you practice “Enjoying the Journey” in your life? Please share in the comments area here or on Face Book in the "For the Love of Self" discussion area some of the ways you enjoy the journey of life while living the happy and sad moments alike. How are you able to keep moving forward and remain flexible in life's circumstances? I really look forward to hearing about how you “Enjoy the Journey.” I know we will all benefit from your pearls of wisdom. Thank you, my friend!
If there is a topic you are passionate about or question that you would like answered about how to Love ourselves better, I would love to hear it. Please write a comment about it here or on Face Book in the "For the Love of Self" discussion area.
Thank you so much for taking time to meditate on “Enjoying the Journey” today! It was a real experience for me in many ways. I had quite a few happy and sad moments during the writing of this article. Writing about this subject really helped me think about things in a much more optimistic, yet realistic fashion. It can be very difficult to smile in the face of tough circumstances, but that led to helping hands from others that I would not have had otherwise experienced. In the end, I was able to see the happiness and let go of the sadness. It was a choice. “Smile journey, smile trust life, the happy and sad alike!” It is great to be alive! Thank you for giving me an opportunity to experience that! Have a wonderful day full of Love and happiness! Aaron Szczurek <3 :-)