Because it is fresh as potent growth experience for me, I decided to write about the concept of contrast. As a noun, contrast is defined as: ”The state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association.” As a verb, “Differ strikingly.” So, why am I thinking about it? Well, I gotta say: 1) After recently fasting for 19 days between sunrise and sunset, (described in previous post) now that I can remain hydrated and energized with food during the day, I find a deeper level of gratitude for the alertness and … [Read more...]
Penultimate Day of Fasting
“…prayer and fasting is the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests.” Abdu’l-Baha “Fasting is the cause of awakening man. The heart becomes tender and the spirituality of man increases.” I have been fasting for 17 days (18 including today) now between sunrise and sunset, and with 19 days as the target, I have 1 day to go. As a Baha’i’, since 2004, this is my 9th fasting cycle. “As has been the case with other revealed religions, the Bahá'í Faith sees great value in the practice of fasting as a discipline for the soul. … [Read more...]
What are YOU thinking?
Looking around with an attentive eye it is easy to see the power of the mind in action. Whether reflecting upon the broader role of the mind in creating a skyscraper, roadway or bridge; leading innovations in technology, science, business, education or the arts; or the role it plays in our daily lives to help us learn, make decisions, interact and navigate life, it is clear that the human mind is powerful. Upon waking to greet each day, our minds lead us (often without thinking) through our morning routine, get us to work, and in most cases become the focus of our work. Our interactions … [Read more...]
Waking Up Through Sound
Sound is vibrational in nature, as is light. In fact, it is said that the entire physical universe is made up of pure energy and vibration and that we too as humans are vibrational beings. “The Hindus have a saying, "Nada Brahma", which means, all is sound, or all of creation is sound. They suggest that the primordial sound of manifest creation is the sound of "Aum", or Om, and that if we were to attune to the creative spirit, we would hear this sound. The Judeo-Christian culture might say, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1)," … [Read more...]
Becoming
Being a "butterfly" in flight provides a different view than experiencing life from within the walls of a cocoon or as a catapillar that is denying its natural urge to weave a transformational casing around itself to later develop it's muscles to chew it's way through and fly. And, having recently emerged from my own cocoon, after following an undeniable prompting to climb inside, I'm enjoying the view and keenly observing the importance of each of these stages. From within my cocoon, I stepped off the train of what my life had been and through a series of challenges including health, … [Read more...]
Dr. Oz Says DANCE
New brain frontiers upon us, dancing is good not only for our body, our spirit, our mood. It exercises our brain. Straight from the mouths of babes, or was it Dr. Oz. Yes, it was Dr. Oz. Not that he is the authority on brains, however he has earned his stripes of passion, expertise and stepping out into his potential for the good of many. Thank you Dr. Oz. So, to share what I learned; This morning during my 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise, on one of my non-running days (one of my healthy new habits that also includes weight lifting for a 1/2 hour or see a few … [Read more...]
Night Shift
Yeah. shocking transition to this title huh? So too is the Night Shift shocking, however boy was it unexpectedly filled with insights and ahas to such a degree that it was definately worth it. And...it confirmed that it was all in right order. So, what the heck am I talking about? Well, last week, the final week of a consulting project that I have been working on full-time since October included 3 overnight shifts. It is less important what the project was, then the insights. However, to provide some context, it was at a hospital who was going live on electronic medical record and … [Read more...]
Some Tips For Feeling Better
I commence with a parallel drawn from nature that all living creatures, plants etc... have both common and individual needs to flourish. Each animal in the "kingdom" needs to eat, drink, sleep, procreate, co-create, in an environment that fits for them. However, exactly what they eat, what they do in their daily life and where/how they do it is unique. Likewise with our sisters and brothers in the plant kingdom, when you take a moment to notice, isn't it true that although all plants, trees and greeneries need some combination of water, soil, sunlight/shade as a common ground isn't is … [Read more...]
Feeling Good Along the Way
Believe you me, this has been a journey in patience, determination and consciousness for me to find the pathway to feeling good as a general state of being. And....now that I am feeling good as a more regular state of being, the intellectual knowledge that feeling good on the inside leads to a better life on the outside is becoming reality. Wow....what an interconnected set of factors that I've woven through to "really get" this truth of the Universe. So, rewinding a bit, you may or may not have been following Law of Attraction, Greg Braden's blending of science and spirituality, Mike … [Read more...]
Taking The Next Step
Okay so you've taken your first step(s), in the midst of continuing to live daily life which remains center point and can offer challenges to squeeze in our dream steps. Yet, somehow you've fit in incremental daily or weekly steps towards the calling that is in your heart and now you find yourself having progressed. (Although, it wouldn't surprise me if you have thoughts that tell you otherwise, and guess what, you don't have to listen to them.) Perhaps it is monumental progress, perhaps it has simply been a baby step. For me, as I write this second blog post, I look back at the … [Read more...]
