“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” ~ Alice Walker Turbulence Expected
Power Within Hello friends! 🤣 It’s comical that I once thought of my life, my pathway forward, as a relatively straight line. I am disciplined, and I had a plan. 😅 In truth, if my life were charted out, it would look much more like the Reality drawing up above. Turns out, I’m not in charge of all things, nor do I have control. 😆 Life keeps coming, and as we move through, there are a huge variety of ups and downs. Some situations are painful, difficult, full of frustration, anger, or grief. Others are surprising, uncomfortable, disorienting, or jarring. There are moments so beautiful, inspiring, enriching, and full of love . . . it boggles the mind and surpasses anything we could have imagined. 🥰 Maybe it’s because it’s eclipse season? Or, because of the stage of life I am currently in? Or, the pace of everything happening around us, all the time? But, it seems reality is even more turbulent than the drawing. 🤪 I have no skills when it comes to illustration, but my Reality would feature some strong winds and a few funnel-like circles. 🤨 Of course, we do have power when it comes to our own pathway forward. No, we can’t control all that is happening around us, but we aren’t just picked up by a strong breeze and hurled around. 💨 Yes, at times it can feel that way, but we have immense power within. Power to regulate ourselves. We have the power within to soothe, release, heal, mend, support, connect, dream, and thrive. We can activate this power simply by pausing. And breathing. Not sure how to get started? Join me!
Ah, better already! Now, slowly savor this poem: a love note to my body “a love note to my body: first of all, I want to say thank you for the heart you kept beating even when it was broken for every answer you gave me in my gut for loving me back even when I didn’t know how to love you for every time you recovered when i pushed you past our limits for today, for waking up.” ~ cleo wade Finally, get into the habit of asking yourself: “Does this support the life I am trying to create?” Here’s to our pathway forward, whatever shape it may form! 🦋 ~ m ♥️ P.S. Beginning this summer, I’ll be incrementally increasing rates for private classes. Thank you for your continued support. 💗 If the cost of yoga classes is keeping you away? Please connect! Let’s explore what’s possible. 🥰
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“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” ~ Brené Brown Four Statements
Facilitating Satisfaction Hello beauties! Happy start to spring! Yes, it truly is spring, despite the fact that around here winter wants to linger. 🥶 Back to the idea of how Bhutan studies Happiness. And who actually IS ranked the Happiest Nation on Earth? 😉 Bhutan implemented its Gross National Happiness Index in 1972 as a way to address the negative impacts of economic growth on the environment and society. In fact, its aim is to set the country on a development path that moves beyond material well-being. I hope you are asking, how in the world would you even go about measuring happiness? Let alone accomplishing this for an entire nation decade after decade. According to the University of Oxford and its Department of International Development, “the GNH Index is a holistic tool based on 33 indicators which measure nine domains: psychological wellbeing; health; education; time use; cultural diversity and resilience; good governance; community vitality; ecological diversity and resilience; and living standards.” Amazingly, the GNH figures released in 2022 saw an increase from 2015 despite the Pandemic. With all this commitment to its nation’s well-being, you might think Bhutan MUST be the happiest nation on the earth. Not so. In fact, for the last six consecutive years, Finland has been rated the World’s Happiest Nation. If this surprises you, you are not alone. In fact, most Finns are said to question this ranking. 🤔 They tend to view themselves as quiet, introverted, and maybe even melancholy. How does that translate into happy?! 😳 I am certain much credit goes to Finland’s wealth, infrastructure, institutions, and the way it cares for its people. But, that can’t explain everything, can it? Let me be clear. I do not see “happiness” as some sort of ideal, panacea, or ultimate outcome. And, I get curious about how a culture is facilitating contentment and satisfaction! Here’s where I’ll turn to Frank Martela, PhD, a Finnish philosopher and psychology researcher who studies the fundamentals of happiness. Dr. Martela talks about the research that shows people who desperately seek happiness tend to be . . . less happy. Hmmmmm. In fact, the Finns believe if you have found happiness, you should not show it. The popular Finnish saying is, “Who has happiness should hide it.” Ostentatious displays of success and wealth are actually shunned. People who are wealthy tend not to stand out with the cars they drive nor the clothes they wear. How does this help overall happiness? Dr. Martela believes it has to do with our tendency to compare ourselves to others which often has a negative effect on our happiness. Dr. Martela identifies 3 more Finnish expressions he believes shapes the sense of satisfaction with their lives: The pessimist will never be disappointed.
Everyone is the blacksmith of their own happiness:
Some have happiness, everyone has summer:
To read Dr. Martela’s article in its entirety, you can click here. Well, I have officially added Finland to the long list of places I want to visit! 🥰 I’m so glad you’re here, ~ m ♥️ P.S. You know I LOVE learning. Recently, I learned I am behind the times in terms of my rates for private classes. Maybe because I haven’t shifted those rates since 2016?! 🤣 Of course, that’s on me. 😉 Beginning this summer, I’ll be incrementally increasing those rates. Thank you for your continued support. If the cost of yoga classes is keeping you away? Please connect. Let’s explore what’s possible. 
“Was it a bad day? Or was it a bad five minutes that you milked all day?” ~ Sassy, a newsletter from Herself Media Speak Kindly
Support Yourself with Spaciousness Hi friends! Today, a loving reminder: please gift yourself ease in moments of transition. It sounds so simple. But in my own investigation, I’ve observed that transitions are where situations frequently go sideways. Example: you have gotten yourself neatly packed and organized for a trip. You arrive at the airport with time to spare. Your flight is on time. Everything is moving according to plan. Then, the moment arrives when it’s time to go through security. You’re juggling your bags, your shoes, your belt, your laptop, your coat, your water bottle, etc. Suddenly, you can’t find your driver’s license. Your passport has gone missing. You have no idea where your phone is. And, I’ll be honest. If Mike happens to be with me? I’ll most likely be delivering some snappy comment his way during this whole fiasco. How did everything go to shambles so quickly? A wonderful aspect of aging: I now understand I am not the only one who can be so easily discombobulated. In fact, many of us feel stress around packing, planning, and preparing. When my mind feels full, trying to store all of the details I “should” keep track of, I notice there’s very little space for anything else. Ugh! Let’s be honest. Everything feels better when there’s spaciousness around it. In the airport security example, with a line of people behind me, I also feel the pressure of being hurried. Again, no spaciousness, which adds to my stress and feeling out of sorts. Moments like these are when we really need our yoga. Now, when I start to have that wound tight sense of stress or anxiety, I know I can soften. I can feel my feet on the earth and allow the ground to support me. I can soften into my belly and deepen my breath to relax my nervous system. I can hear how I am speaking to myself, and, if needed, move the needle towards something more compassionate. These tools help me recover more quickly. I can move through the stress cycle and return to a place of balance. As I practice this, it all becomes easier. More readily accessible. Less downward spiral. Quicker return to calm. Those five minutes in security need not derail my day. Of course, this approach is applicable beyond airport security lines. In fact, it’s relevant to each and every moment we encounter. Yes, this is how yoga becomes our moment by moment, breath by breath way of living. . If you breezed by the quotation up above, take another look. 👀 Let’s speak kindly to ourselves. Gift ourselves ease in transition. And lovingly support ourselves when things go sideways. Think how differently our world would feel and flow if we all embraced these ideas? 💗 Thank you for being a source of light. 💡 The world needs it 🌎 ~ m ♥️ 
“You know you can do yoga without doing a single posture in your life. Yoga is not about being bendy. Yoga is a way of living. It is a journey to the self, through the self, a step by step coming home.” ~ Sattva Yoga Academy, Landsdowne India A Way of Living
To the Self, Through the Self Hi friends! Reminder; we change time this weekend. ⏰ That’s right. It’s already time to Spring Forward! 🌷 Truth? My body and my being feel a bit confused., The sun and the warmth have been delightful, strange, and a bit scary. Crocuses in bloom. Daffodils nearly ready. Barefoot walks on the beach. Lakefront towns bustling. Powerful thunderstorms. I can’t tell you the number of times Mike and I have said to one another, “We could be sailing today.” For me? It’s unsettling. And, I understand this could become our new normal. While I don’t long for mountains of snow, I do relish the winter months for the opportunity to hibernate. To live, move, and work at a different pace. More time for rest so I can recharge. This shift in output helps me come up with new ideas. To nurture connections. To take care of things I have neglected during the busyness of the summer season. However, when it’s unexpectedly sunny and 70, who can resist getting out there? (I hope the fruit tress can resist popping out too early, that’s for sure!) 😳 So, as the days become even longer, and the pace of life picks up for many of us, I want to remind us all . . . it’s a great idea to simply unplug once in a while. Taking a 20 minute savasana in the middle of the day is a gorgeous way to unplug. If you breezed right through the quotation up above, please take a nice, slow read. Yoga is not the performance of physical postures. Yoga provides a step by step, moment by moment, breath by breath walk through life. Sure, some expressions of this might make you hot and sweaty, or put you into a bind, but that’s not necessary . . . nor what it’s about. I love that yoga continues to nurture me, guide me, and support me. Every day. In new ways. And guess what? I am both happier and healthier because of it! Thanks for being part of my yogic path. I love that you’re here, ~ m ♥️ |
AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
August 2024
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