Archive for the ‘SPIRITUAL’ Category

the cheapest stress health cure on the internet

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

IMG_4030

Do you feel stressed?

At a sale’s party for a health product recently the thought occurred to me that I was feeling a deep sense of despair, almost panic, that my stress may be too expensive to treat.

I know stresses in life at this time in history are insidious and difficult to decipher. I know this because even though I don’t feel that stressed, my body is showing signs that I am. Dry skin, migranes, fatigue, low immunity, and other small, but definitely stress related issues, that pop up all the time.

Health care is expensive, but I know preventative health is by far the cheapest choice – even if it means $14/hot yoga class, $40 a bottle of health-juice, organic veggies, hiring a babysitter to spend time alone, or to have a good chat with a friend – or my spouse, wonderful multivitamins, beautiful anti-oxidants and xanthones that are miracle foods.  Even time to slow down, when I get paid by the hour can seem an expensive luxury – but its still cheaper than a doctor’s bill for a serious stress-caused illness.

So, I’m not arguing against any of these things. I am so happy when I have the resources to do them. But still. Why is cost part of this discussion? I don’t want to ever feel, no matter what my economic situation, that I can’t afford health – especially when I am already a healthful person!

I dont feel like my life is stressful. Honestly. I love my work, which has its ups and downs, but they are all manageable, and make life fun. I have my kids, which are great, and I love being a mom. (Granted, I do get a little wired up – especially around dinner time, when all are  hungry and the breakfast dishes are in the way.) My friends and relationships are only improving and in general life is good. I make consistent efforts to bring joy into my life, I paint regularly, I have a prayer/meditation practice, I love to cook and we eat healthy. I go out dancing (well, OK not that much – but last night’s DJD funk-party was great!) I enjoy nature and time with family and friends. I think I have many stress coping mechanisms in my life. Despite all this, there are underlying stresses that I am not dealing with.

During my meditation today, the thought occurred to me that a feeling of kindness can offer a cure.

Pushing aside  ”buzz” and tension, even for a few seconds, can build the long-term muscles to cope with stress. When the dinner is cooking, and Emery is at my feet crying because he cant get his lego sword to work, I can stop. Push aside my anxiety and tension, and look him in the eyes with kindness and ask him if I can help. The benefit is all mine.

The effort it takes to push anxiety out is monumental. Even if for a second. Like working out at the gym, I’m starting with the small weights. Its the feeling of kindness and love that makes the benefit. I can be helping people all the time, be of service to the world, and be a mega-star in selfless sacrifice, but if I dont feel that sensation of pushing aside the moment to be with someone, feel love and kindness and offer my help, then I wont have the same rewards.

If I can feel this at every opportunity, I will be building psychological muscles for health. Pushing those walls of tension aside, and letting kindness flood in, whenever I have a chance, is my new health-regime.

And its free.

This is what I wrote in my journal today about this:

“1 cure for stress:

To stop in the middle of madness and chaos, a look with kindness into a child’s eyes and to sincerely ask him what he needs, and then, with love and full joy provide it for him, as a  lovely treasured gift.”

Baha’u'llah on kindness:

“A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It clotheth the words with meaning. It is fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.”

A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.
(Baha’u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 15)A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.
(Baha’u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 15)

Posted in SPIRITUAL | 1 Comment »

Devotional for Japan

Friday, March 11th, 2011
Hello Everyone,
I am sure you have been watching the news. I have been deeply moved by the images and thinking about the people affected by this disaster. Its one of those things that puts you at a loss for words. As parents you cant help think about your own families and imagine what people must be going through.
When things like this happen far away, sometimes I feel grateful that I am in such a safe place. But mostly I feel an overwhelming sense of frustration and sadness and I feel helpless to do anything about it. Of course we will all contribute money or time in an effort to help Japan in the next few months but I want to request a special evening for us to pray and reflect with our children. It is a way of gathering and preparing ourselves to do what we can.
In the panic that must follow, its hard to justify something like an evening of prayer. Its seems pretty flighty when people are facing real emergencies. But I also have to gather myself and consider things that are often over looked. There is an undervalued relevancy of gathering together and finding sacred time.
Here are a few reasons why I think a spiritual gathering like this is important:
Praying with children helps them learn how to calm themselves, and put trust in something beyond themselves (deal with stress)
It teaches our children (and ourselves) that we can come together as a community no matter what background/religion we are from
It shows we all have a common trust and love for our world and for each other
It creates an environment of peace, love and reverence when sacred words are read and reflected on
We create a deeper connection and community that can assist each other in times of emergency or hardship
When friendship and connections are made based on a deeper level and understanding of our common humanity, we are more resilient to disaster
As adults, it is a good stress release, which enables us to be more able to cope with life, and help others
We are spending time to orient our thoughts beyond the day to day and think of the bigger picture
We admit we are not the only ones able to bring change, and we can put our trust in forces we may not understand, but that bring us love and happiness
You may have other reasons to come to a gathering like this, you can reply to this email and let me know.
This devotional is short notice, due to the circumstances. I will have another one in April so please don’t worry if you cant make it – but I would love to hear from you either way :)
This  devotional will be 6:00 – 7:00 Sunday March 13.
Love and safety to you families and loved ones.
Angie.
(editorial note: I know that this isn’t really a blog entry, but I wanted to let people know about this and it seemed like a good way to get the letter out. Sorry if I crossed the boundaries of blog etiquette.)

Hello Everyone,

I am sure you have been watching the news. I have been deeply moved by the images and thinking about the people affected by this disaster. Its one of those things that puts you at a loss for words. As parents you cant help think about your own families and imagine what people must be going through.

When things like this happen far away, sometimes I feel grateful that I am in such a safe place. But mostly I feel an overwhelming sense of frustration and sadness and I feel helpless to do anything about it. Of course we will all contribute money or time in an effort to help Japan in the next few months but I want to request a special evening for us to pray and reflect with our children. It is a way of gathering and preparing ourselves to do what we can.

In the panic that must follow, its hard to justify something like an evening of prayer. Its seems pretty flighty when people are facing real emergencies. But I also have to gather myself and consider things that are often over looked. There is an undervalued relevancy of gathering together and finding sacred time.

Here are a few reasons why I think a spiritual gathering like this is important:
  • Praying with children helps them learn how to calm themselves, and put trust in something beyond themselves (deal with stress)
  • It teaches our children (and ourselves) that we can come together as a community no matter what background/religion we are from
  • It shows we all have a common trust and love for our world and for each other
  • It creates an environment of peace, love and reverence when sacred words are read and reflected on
  • We create a deeper connection and community that can assist each other in times of emergency or hardship
  • When friendship and connections are made based on a deeper level and understanding of our common humanity, we are more resilient to disaster
  • As adults, it is a good stress release, which enables us to be more able to cope with life, and help others
  • We are spending time to orient our thoughts beyond the day to day and think of the bigger picture
  • We admit we are not the only ones able to bring change, and we can put our trust in forces we may not understand, but that bring us love and happiness
You may have other reasons to come to a gathering like this, you can make a comment and let us know.

This devotional is short notice, due to the circumstances. I will have another one in April so please don’t worry if you cant make it – but I would love to hear from you either way

This  devotional will be 6:00 – 7:00 Sunday March 13. email me at angie@lilacwindow.com if you wnt to come.

Love and safety to you families and loved ones.

Angie.

Posted in SPIRITUAL | No Comments »

true economics

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

generous2

Spiritual contemplation, meditation and prayer. How do you find your motivation, reconnect with the source of your truth, call on help and make a connection with something greater?

After some thinking about the forces of our time, I am working on a plan to daily live a philosophy of “true economics” that is based on “Love, Kindness, Generosity and Severance.” pg 28.

my simple thoughts and initial plan includes:

Severance: detachment from results, to have dreams and goals but to not be attached to them, to pray and meditate on this daily.

Love: to love those I am with, to generate more love and to express love. to be specific about the love I feel and to direct it to the people, work, or reality I am facing.

Generosity: to consider what gifts I can offer. to not feel limited. to give, and give.

Kindness: to seek out those in need, and offer kindness.

This is my business plan as of today.

“Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity…” Baha’u'llah.

Posted in SPIRITUAL | 2 Comments »

Monday’s quote. Time to own up.

Monday, October 26th, 2009

charcoal trees

“Strive with thy power to paint thy likeness on the pages of the hearts with such beauty as to brighten the minds. That beauty is the splendor of the Merciful and the glad-tidings of thy Lord, the Clement, whereby the faces shine with an eternal light in the course of ages and centuries.”
-Abdu’l-Baha

Just to let you all know where I am coming from. Everyone has a bias, and an agenda. Here’s mine.

Posted in ART, SPIRITUAL | 1 Comment »