Blog at the Circle

December is a time for joyful celebration and reflection. As I look back on the year I am filled with satisfaction. I had the opportunity to co-create a new kitchen with my artist brother Dave. He's worked on lots of kitchens and when it came time to do mine I couldn't think of a better person to create the beautiful space. (Check out his Green Interior Spaces website!)  It turned out beautiful and we initiated it to the fullest extent on Thanksgiving Day!

Although I've waited a long time for this new kitchen I have to say that what stands out most about this year is my time spent at the Eckhart Tolle Retreat for Helping Professionals. Although I've been meditating most of my life, this Retreat took me to a deeper level of peace in my everyday life.

This month's word is Peace - A state of tranquility or quiet.

For those of you who are not familiar with Eckhart Tolle, he is an advocate for living fully in the present moment. It is an amazing way, and sometimes one of the only ways, of finding peace in our hectic lives. The terms "present moment" and "mindfulness meditation" are essentially the same concept. Using the phrase "present moment" we can more easily bring the practice of meditation into our everyday life, transcending the notion that "meditation" needs to be done in a quiet place. We can meditate and find peace anywhere, anytime, in anything we do if we can bring ourselves into the present moment. That means not thinking ahead to what may be or looking back at what has been. It's a process of looking at right now. And when we can do that we become Peace.

Let me give a personal example. Some of you have already heard this but it bears repeating. Just a few weeks after our kitchen remodel was completed we saw water leaking from under the wall. YIKES! That's not a good thing. That was on a Sunday night. We shut the water off and called the plumber we know and trust.  He couldn't come until Tuesday morning so we had plenty of time to "worry" if we chose to. But instead of worry I chose to practice being in the moment - mindfulness meditation.

Every time I woke up in the middle of the night, every time I would start thinking about the astronomical cost of a slab leak repair, every time my husband Bob would call to report on the horror stories from others I practiced the same mantra.  I reminded myself (and Bob) that "It is what it is. We've done what we can for now. Let's wait and see what the plumber says and take it from there."  These sentences were repeated numerous times and brought peace into my emotional state.

When the plumber came Tuesday morning he confirmed what everyone dreads - it was a slab leak. My hopes were dashed and I found myself slipping into that world of fear. But I was able to catch myself and remind myself that "It is what it is. See what he says." So after about a half hour the verdict was in. We caught it really early, very little damage to the wall, the line that broke went only to the refrigerator. There was a very easy and affordable fix!

Now think of all the worry I avoided by bringing myself into the present moment instead of dwelling on what horrors could have resulted. Look at all the peace I brought to myself, my husband and the house. It takes practice but it is possible to transform our reality of worry, stress and fear into peace with a few simple changes in what we focus on. We don't have to think rosy outcomes, just look at right now.

I wish you PEACE that lasts a lifetime!

Share how you bring Peace into your life.

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This month we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. It's a time of family gatherings - usually involving lots of good food - being thankful and showing our appreciation and Gratitude.   

This month's word is Gratitude.      

A feeling of being thankful and appreciative.   

As we go through life our minds are filled with thoughts of what's going on around us at any given moment. We frequently think about what has happened or what will happen. So often our mind goes to the things that are or can go wrong, the problems, the traumas or the catastrophes. Dwelling on these topics can be so depressing, so deflating, so dark.

But we have a choice. We can choose to go into that dark hole of thinking about the problems or we can choose to look for something more pleasant to think about - even if it's just that right now... this moment... all is well. Most of the battle is catching ourselves embracing the problems. Once we catch ourselves in the thought process we can change the station to something more positive, something that feels better.

Choosing a thought of gratitude is an easy choice. It doesn't have to be a huge thing that we are thankful for. Here's a suggestion. When you're celebrating Thanksgiving this year acknowledge everyone who participates with gratitude for their role. Express your gratitude for not only the food but for the cook or cooks, the person who cleared the table, the one drying the dishes and the dishwasher (person or machine!)

In Reiki we have what are called the five Reiki Principles. The Principles represent a way to help keep our life in balance through our thoughts. Here's the first principle:

Just for today I live the attitude of gratitude. 

I give thanks for my many blessings.

I Am so very Grateful that you are in my life!  I Am truly blessed!  

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Share with us how you bring Gratitude into your life or what you are Grateful for!

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There are times in our lives when we think we have everything under control. Plans are in place to accomplish all those projects on our list. And then the unexpected shows up! It's those times when we have to drop everything, change gears and refocus our attention that can be difficult. That's when flexibility is so important.

This month's word is Flexibility ... The quality of bending easily without breaking. The ability to easily modify.

Sometimes all the planning in the world has to go out the window and we need to adjust to the situation. Over the years I've discovered that the world doesn't end if I don't do what I thought I needed to do or what I thought people expected of me.  Sometimes we just have to be in the moment and do the best we can at the time.

It's these times when we can have frustration or even anger arise because things aren't going as planned. These emotions serve to remind us of the need for flexibility. Take a deep breath and be like a willow or palm tree. When the wind blows they moves easily with the breeze.

The important factor here is the state of mind. If we can relax and remind ourselves that it is what it is in this moment and that everything will work out...we don't know how but it will, but it will...we can make decisions that easily adapt to the situation. Flexibility is key to peace of mind.

Share how you bring Flexibility into your life.

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It's September! Time for the autumn equinox here in the northern hemisphere.  Whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere of this planet the equinox is the time when a balance is reached with equal parts of sunlight and darkness.

This month's word is Balance - A state of equilibrium, even adjustment, steadiness.

The equinox is a turning of the tide in our earth experience. It signals the move into a time of more darkness than light in the northern hemisphere and more light than darkness in the southern hemisphere. But it is at that point of shift on September 23rd at 1:21 am PT that we achieve that balance between the two extremes. It is a point of stability.

Maintaining balance in our lives is crucial to our physical, mental and emotional well-being. The earth seems to have this whole balance thing worked out but it doesn't always seem so easy in our everyday lives!

Here are some ways to achieve and maintain balance.

• Balance stress of work or commitments with going outside and enjoying nature. Sit under a tree, watch the clouds, take a few deep breaths.
• Give to others; Give to yourself!
• Thinking of the problems? Think of some positives.
• Everything's going wrong? Find something to appreciate or be thankful for (even something small works).
• Balance the bitter with a little something sweet!

Share how you bring Balance into your life!

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We have fragrant plumeria plants growing along the walkway and they are in full bloom rigt now. They have a warm, inviting fragrance that makes me take deep breaths to savor the fragrance every time I'm near them. While the bees may love the flowers for their pollen and birds love them for their nectar, those deep breaths are essential for our well-being.

Ths month's word is Breathe - To inhale and exhale air with the lungs.

I frequently catch myself taking shallow breaths. It's not intentional but stress results in shallow breathing and shallow breathing creates more stress. Slow, deep breaths can be very calming and balancing. When we cultivate a practice of breathing slowly and deeply amazing transformation occurs in our physical, mental and emotional states.

Try these simple steps to bring calming balance back into your life:

• Be mindful of your breath
• Slow and deepen the breath if it's shallow
• Retrain your breathing pattern with continued awareness or yoga breath-work

When you feel anxiety building - Breathe - a slow, deep breth

If you are worried about something - Breathe - It will bring youback into the present moment.

If you're dropping things, running into things or feeling frustrated - Breathe - It will slow you down and bring balance.

Breathe in the beauty of life all around you by taking a few minutes every hour or so to stop, focus on your breath, imagine breathing that life-force energy into your body and enjoy the moment. Then return to your activities in a calmer more present awareness.

Share how you Breathe peace and calm into your life!

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