 “Yoga begins with listening. When we listen, we are giving space to what is.” ~ Richard Freeman Beautiful souls, Thank you for meeting me here. I hope this letter brings a measure of comfort and support today. This week, straight talk about the complexity of life. And, one strategy that helps me navigate it all. I have so much in my life that brings tremendous joy. And, there are challenges. Sometimes, the joys and the challenges seem quite separate. Other times, the joys and challenges are entirely intermingled. This jumble of energy and emotion can make everything feel messy, or confusing, in my mind and body. Through conversation, I realize I am not alone in this. I hear many of my friends talking openly about all they are grateful for. These same lovely humans are also expressing their fears, weariness, grief, and their resignation. There's so much beauty in the world. And, there's so much sorrow. So much to worry about, be angry about, be sad about. How do we stay steady, let alone remain a source of light, amidst it all? Let's work on expanding our vision!
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 “I have been a seeker and I still am, but I stopped asking the books and the stars. I started listening to the teaching of my soul.” ~ Rumi Hello, friends! I hope your week is moving along nicely. Last week I wrote about the scientific study exploring how difficult it is for many of us to be alone with our own thoughts. If you missed it, or want a quick refresher, you can get caught up here. Today, I want to further the discussion. Years ago a therapist said to me, "Michelle, this is not something you are going to be able to think your way out of." At the time, I struggled to understand what she really meant. To me, it felt like if I could just think through the situation with the right amount of focus, or with the correct amount of intelligence, then things should become clear. These days, I have a better understanding of what that therapist was trying to tell me. As my primary yoga teacher often says, "The mind is a wonderful servant and a terrible master." Let's make sure we don't miss the magic.
 “People will do anything, no matter how absurd, to avoid facing their own souls.” ~ Carl Jung Hello, beautiful beings: I'm so happy to connect with you today. Maybe it was the three consecutive snow days last week? Or, the frigid temperatures and high winds we're experiencing? Perhaps it's the fact that I (once again) hosted book club over Zoom? Regardless, I find myself trying to settle into winter season. I want to embrace its rhythmic shifts. A little more quiet can be a good thing, correct? A recent scientific study caught my attention. Here's one of its headlines: "People would rather be electrically shocked than be alone with their thoughts" Wait. What? Can that be true? In this study, in less than 15 minutes left alone with their own thoughts, 67% of men and 25% of women chose to push a button administering themselves an electric shock. Dare I say it . . . that's shocking! This study got quite a bit of attention. If you want to dig deeper, you can read more here. Our brain is thinking and in overdrive almost all the time. What's so terrible about being with our thoughts? Click here to learn more about being at home within yourself.
 “My biggest struggles have been my biggest teachers.” ~ Kathryn Budig Hello, 2022! Checking in: how are you feeling, how are you being, in the start of the new year? If the beginning of 2022 is buoyant and bright . . . amazing. Keep shining! Providing light for your own path, plus guiding a few others along the way? That's pretty fantastic. If your *fresh start* feels a little more lackluster, I encourage you to pause and honor that. When life is going smoothly, and we're healthy, rested, and well nourished, aligning with our highest best self may seem simple. But, how do we navigate everything when life is out of balance? Go ahead. Give yourself permission to feel all the feelings and read more here.
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AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
June 2023
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