Reflections
May 25, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under Visual Meditation of the Week
Sometimes it’s hard to see where the real object ends and the reflection begins. This can be true for people too.
Are you seeing people, including yourself, with fresh eyes every day? Or are you reflecting yourself or others’ perceptions onto them?
Crescent Lake, Juliet Chase, all rights reserved
5 tips for spring cleaning your mind
March 26, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under Health and Happiness
There’s something about spring cleaning that gives a fresh perspective to a familiar room; maybe it’s just reacquainting yourself with the details that aren’t so apparent day to day. The same is true for all those internal thoughts and plans. Here are five relatively simple things you can do to clean out the mental cobwebs.
- Throw away or give away all those half-finished projects; those things that you started or set aside materials for more than six months ago but that you haven’t touched in the last 60 days. Really be honest about the likelihood and your desire to finish them. If they don’t make that cut give them to someone that will find value in finishing it or just get rid of it and cross it off the list. You’ll free up physical space, mental space, and lose some guilt as well.
- Update your to-do list, goals and risk lists. Gather any and all paper and electronic lists and go over them with an open mind. Check off the things that have been done, remove things that are no longer pertinent (it’s ok to let go of a goal not yet accomplished if it’s no longer a dream.) And add anything new that’s come up. Also, if you’re a habitual list maker think about consolidating lists so there aren’t so many to keep track of.
- Clear the air with other people. If something has been bugging you, even if it goes back to your childhood, bring it up with that person in a non-confrontational way. Even if it doesn’t completely mend the hurt feelings, finding out why they said or did what they did will free you up from wondering and speculating. It’s amazing how many hurtful things get said when someone simply isn’t feeling well; finding that out helps put it in better perspective.
- Let go of any fears about money, kids, grades, whatever for one week. You can pick them back up after seven days if you really want to. And turn off the TV and radio for the same week; yes, really. If something really dire happens, someone will tell you. Then see what comes to fill this sudden void.
- Rearrange your environment and your routine. This doesn’t have to be drastic unless you want it to be. Just try moving pictures around to different walls than they were on before. Go for a walk or run in the neighborhood instead of the gym, take the headphones off on the bus, eat breakfast in the living room. Switch it up a bit.
Silence
March 23, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under Visual Meditation of the Week
Feel the coolness of the breeze preceding the incoming rain. When was the last time you raised your face to the rain instead of hunching your shoulders and running?
Are there areas of your life that aren’t sunny, but maybe have a refreshing stillness to them?
Northern New Mexico, Juliet Chase, all rights reserved
Patience
March 16, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under Visual Meditation of the Week
It took a long time for the brick and plaster to weather to such a calm and comfortable attitude. And even the garden would require several years to fill in with such abundance and yet, the end result is far more magical than anything that could have been created ‘finished’ in an instant.
Are you allowing yourself time to grow at your own pace or are you trying to force something into being before it’s ready?
Mission at San Juan Capistrano, Juliet Chase, all rights reserved
Go with the flow
March 9, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under Visual Meditation of the Week
There is something incredibly captivating about watching a hawk ride the wind. It’s hard to look away while it’s still in sight. Part of the magic is because birds of prey are so efficient in expending energy, there is no wasted effort and they take advantage of what the moment offers.
Take a few minutes to put yourself in the hawk’s place. Do you allow the wind to help you or insist on fighting it? Do you trust yourself enough to stop doing things just for the sake of doing something?
New Mexico, Juliet Chase, all rights reserved
Contrasts
March 2, 2009 by Juliet Chase
Filed under Visual Meditation of the Week
Beauty can be found in the strangest places. Sometimes, it takes extreme conditions or stark contrasts for us to be able to see it.
What positive aspects of yourself do you overlook or undervalue just because they seem commonplace?
Yellowstone National Park, Juliet Chase, all rights reserved
