Category Archives for "Self Awareness"
Who am I and what is my soul purpose?
Learn The Art of Drinking Tea
Drinking tea is a lost art if you are not paying attention to its joys. In Asia, where there is a long tradition to tea-drinking. To enjoy tea fully, you have to savor the fragrance, color and flavor of the tea as the brew becomes stronger. You learn about the world from your teapcup when you engage your senses as you drink.
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh has one of the best advice for us when drinking tea….
“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Inspirational Story: Song of the Little Bird
There lived a little bird in the forest. It had been singing songs ever since it was born. It learned how to sing from papa bird, mama bird and all the other birds in the vicinity. It would sing everyday.
(A collage made out of printed transparent plastic with photoshopped details against a wooden background).
One day, while the little bird was singing on the branch of a tree, it got interrupted by the sound of a little boy. The little bird looked down. A boy was pointing at it with his finger and saying “what a sad haunting melody!”
Inception Movie Review: Your Mind Is the Scene of the Crime
I had a dream in the wee hours of Sunday morning. When I woke up from the dream, I decided that I needed to watch the move “Inception” as soon as possible. My dream had felt real. It was intriguing that I was able to understand its message for me while I was in the dream state. I wanted to find out if “Inception” had more to teach me about dreams.
“Dreams feel real while we’re in them. It’s only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.” — Inception
Slow Down To Experience More in 7 Ways
Do we ever consider slowing down for a fuller experience of life? Do we ever stop to take in the beauty of the moment before us? Do we make it a priority to connect – and truly connect – with someone else? Today’s post is about slowing down to experience more. Oddly enough, we will realize that in our fanatic rush to save time, we miss out on a lot of important things in life.
(Don’t just look straight ahead, notice the pretty flowers along the path)
“Slow down and enjoy life. It is not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” Eddie Cantor
How to Handle A Visit From Fear
Fear had been a long time companion of mine. We have had many conversations in the past over coffee chats and meditation sittings. At first, I listened to Fear intently. I observed how Fear was doing a great job in her warnings to me.
My mind went into calculating, analyzing and thinking with all the points raised by Fear. The more issues she brought up, the more she gesticulated; and the more, she spoke with emotion. Soon, Fear found herself in overdrive.
I noted Fear’s good intent. “Fear is telling me to play small so that I will feel safe”, I said to myself. Clearly, she did not want me to fail. I nodded, in acknowledgment of her pledge of support. Her stern advice went in a menacing voice “Surely, you do not want to be embarrassed? Any signs of failure are not going to look good!”
10 Sure-Fire Tips To Making Creative Visualization Fun!
There are several things that you can do to make your creative visualization sessions fun. You already know how important it is to use the power of pictures to assist in manifestations. However, if you have left your creative mind languishing for a long time, you may just need a little help in getting started. A little imagination can go a long way in making visualizing exercises fun-filled….and far from boring.
I have put together 10 sure-fire tips to help you have lots of fun in your creative visualisation sessions:
Creative Visualization Tip #1: Spark Off From A Single Idea.
You do not need to have a very clear picture at first. Starting off with a single idea is fine. Just follow your heart and see where it leads you. Allow your imagination some freedom as you follow your heart. Do not over-think or analyse. Nor feel like you have to restrict yourself when visualising the things you want.
How To Make Peace With Noise
One of the common complaints we surface about our poor ability to meditate is that we get distracted by our surrounding noise. Meditation is supposed to be done in silence, is it not? Since most of us live in close proximity with our neighbors or even our loved ones, whatever noises that others make can well distract us; even whilst we are trying our level best to be in touch with our breath.
Now, here is a story for you to ponder over on how you can make peace with each noisy moment….
(From My Personal Art Journal: Make Peace With Each Moment)
The Story Of Making Peace With Each Noisy Moment
Draw A Creative Mind Map for Self Analysis
Many personal development experts share about the benefits of using mind maps. My post today takes it one step further with how I have used the concept of mind mapping for self analysis. I also share illustrations from my personal art journal that I created some time ago. I drew them as part of my pre-vision board exercises.
The (above) mind map picture that I did for self-analysis was my first. It may look simplistic but it has helped launched a myriad of creative ideas. Regarding self-analysis, awareness of who I am is important to help bring me into alignment with the vision of my future self.
Use The Pink Bubble Technique for Creative Visualization
More than just a game, engaging in the creative visualization exercise can apparently help give your dreams some lift. Imagine floating your fantasies wrapped in pink bubbles into the air and allowing the Universe to bring them in manifestation! Sounds like fun? Well, it is. The best part is that you can possibly turn your dreams into reality.
(Pink Bubble Technique – illustration from my personal art journal)
The pink bubble technique is shared by Shakti Gawain, an internationally renowned teacher of consciousness in her book, Creative Visualization: Use the Power of Imagination to Create What You Want in Life. Shakti has facilitated thousands of individuals in developing greater awareness, balance and wholeness in their lives.
Goenka Vipassana Meditation: Your Body As An Laboratory
It was difficult to keep still. At times, the pain on my back intensified to an excruciating level. It was as if someone had stuck a dagger into a single blade on the lower right. It would have take a physical movement to help ease the pain. Yet, I was not supposed to move. I had to keep my back straight for at least one hour.
(The campsite on St John’s Island lies beyond the hill)
Any major physical movement would disrupt the practice of focus and concentration acquired through anapana. Breathing in, breathing out, I sat on the meditation cushion. I was only required to observe any physical sensation. So this was how it was like for most of my sittings for a continuous 10 days. I was in confinement for the most part, cut away from almost all forms of external communication with others. I was on a Noble Silence Goenka Vipassana Meditation Retreat from Dec 1 to 12, 2009.