Gratefulness is easy when we have something really wonderful to be thankful for. How about the difficulties? Patrick Miller ask us to consider "accelerating forgiveness" through gratefulness and not just the so called "good" things. He suggests that, as we change our perceptions, our misfortunes seem to add to our strength, resilience, response-ability and alertness.
He says," Lately it seems that" bad things" are merely those which I'm not yet prepared to handle effectively- and it also seems that they present themselves in order to help me increase my competence."
I think this statement is quite enlightening and I suspect it is not only our competence that is enhanced, but also our empathy, compassion, insight, resilience and tolerance to name just a few.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
A Personal Note...
Linda Maxwell made a request in Wednesday class this morning...
Her email is: lmpmaxwell@gmail.com
Her email is: lmpmaxwell@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Why do we roll to the right?
Some of you have asked that I locate this post for you.
Check this in the archives : Sunday, May 2nd, 2010.
Check this in the archives : Sunday, May 2nd, 2010.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Remembering...
Last week I read a poem* in class that pertained to questions that came up around forgiveness.
A few people asked about the idea of "forgive and forget". My response to that was that it was important to know that forgiveness is not about forgetting. Remembering what happened is often what makes us wiser. Forgiving is letting go of anger and resentment so we don't continue to carry toxic energy. Remembering what happened helps us to not fall down the same "hole again" and wonder why we are here once again. Portia Nelson says it so well in her poem, "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters".*
"Remembering" at its best invites us to realize that we all share "the wound of humanity" and that our wounds are not more special than those of others. "Our particular wounds have much to do with who we are as individuals and that history is important to understand." -Patrick Miller
However whenever you begin to reinforce an old grievance ask yourself ... "Do I want to go here again... will it make me feel better?" As P. Miller says, "What has fear and hurt done for me lately?"
A few people asked about the idea of "forgive and forget". My response to that was that it was important to know that forgiveness is not about forgetting. Remembering what happened is often what makes us wiser. Forgiving is letting go of anger and resentment so we don't continue to carry toxic energy. Remembering what happened helps us to not fall down the same "hole again" and wonder why we are here once again. Portia Nelson says it so well in her poem, "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters".*
"Remembering" at its best invites us to realize that we all share "the wound of humanity" and that our wounds are not more special than those of others. "Our particular wounds have much to do with who we are as individuals and that history is important to understand." -Patrick Miller
However whenever you begin to reinforce an old grievance ask yourself ... "Do I want to go here again... will it make me feel better?" As P. Miller says, "What has fear and hurt done for me lately?"
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a huge topic.... a little daunting to be fitting this into our 6 week summer session.
However we will look at aspects of forgiveness that might dislodge some of our old perceptions and give us a clearer view of what it means.
Regarding self forgiveness Patrick Miller in THE WAY OF FORGIVENESS says," Forgiving your flaws and failures does not mean looking away from them or lying about them. Look at them as a string of pitiful or menacing hitchhikers whom you can't afford not to pick up on your journey to a changed life. Each of them has a piece of the map you need hidden in its shabby clothing. You must listen attentively to all their stories and win the friendship of each one to put your map together."
For me the idea of "listening to their stories" makes all the difference. What lies beneath our inability to forgive ourselves? We can begin to let go of and remove the armor that protects and keeps hidden our shame and guilt. We can bring it into the light and acknowledge it. We can learn the truth that surrounds it.
In yoga practice, we often feel that we have peeled away some of the protective layers of tension that we habitually store and hold in our bodies. That is one of the reasons we feel so good after practice. There is a freedom that is felt in the body... a new way of moving and breathing.
What if through a regular practice of forgiveness we felt that same lightness and freedom.
Similar to yoga, our first attempts may feel clumsy and awkward. However with practice it becomes easier more fluid and we begin to claim it as how we live. We catch ourselves holding a grievance and begin to wash it away little by little. We boldly stay present with our state of mind and how we are responding or reacting.
Forgiveness is a yoga... a practice of knowing ourselves and responding from a deep well of wisdom within.
However we will look at aspects of forgiveness that might dislodge some of our old perceptions and give us a clearer view of what it means.
Regarding self forgiveness Patrick Miller in THE WAY OF FORGIVENESS says," Forgiving your flaws and failures does not mean looking away from them or lying about them. Look at them as a string of pitiful or menacing hitchhikers whom you can't afford not to pick up on your journey to a changed life. Each of them has a piece of the map you need hidden in its shabby clothing. You must listen attentively to all their stories and win the friendship of each one to put your map together."
For me the idea of "listening to their stories" makes all the difference. What lies beneath our inability to forgive ourselves? We can begin to let go of and remove the armor that protects and keeps hidden our shame and guilt. We can bring it into the light and acknowledge it. We can learn the truth that surrounds it.
In yoga practice, we often feel that we have peeled away some of the protective layers of tension that we habitually store and hold in our bodies. That is one of the reasons we feel so good after practice. There is a freedom that is felt in the body... a new way of moving and breathing.
What if through a regular practice of forgiveness we felt that same lightness and freedom.
Similar to yoga, our first attempts may feel clumsy and awkward. However with practice it becomes easier more fluid and we begin to claim it as how we live. We catch ourselves holding a grievance and begin to wash it away little by little. We boldly stay present with our state of mind and how we are responding or reacting.
Forgiveness is a yoga... a practice of knowing ourselves and responding from a deep well of wisdom within.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday Class- cancelled
Sorry to say... we did not get enough sign ups for Friday this summer. Understandable, as often people want to go off for the weekend.
For those of you registered in Tuesday and Wednesday classes that means NO MAKE-UPS on Fridays!!!! Sorry about that. I know some of you made full use of that option!!!
Ah well, Friday evening classes will be back in the Fall. :)
For those of you registered in Tuesday and Wednesday classes that means NO MAKE-UPS on Fridays!!!! Sorry about that. I know some of you made full use of that option!!!
Ah well, Friday evening classes will be back in the Fall. :)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Way of Forgiveness
Have you ever thought of forgiveness as a "provocative discipline"? Patrick Miller in his book The Way of Forgiveness describes it this way. I look forward to exploring this topic in our 6 week summer session beginning tonight. Attachment, refusal, ego and fear all participate in our inability to forgive. We may be stuck in our ability to forgive others but also very resistant to forgiving ourselves.
We will also of course be diving into some interesting postures and techniques and revisiting and refining some old favorites. Yoga is vast. There are so many ways we can learn about ourselves and continue to grow and become more of who we are.
See you soon...
We will also of course be diving into some interesting postures and techniques and revisiting and refining some old favorites. Yoga is vast. There are so many ways we can learn about ourselves and continue to grow and become more of who we are.
See you soon...
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