Wellness Wednesday: End of the Year Grief

The end of the year can often amplify emotions we often store within ourselves, one particularly being grief; grief of losing someone or something that may or may not be physically here with us still at this time.

We may get frustrated at ourselves thinking that we have not already “moved on”. However, I do not think we “move on” from grief, instead we move forward with it. I think this is why grief comes in waves. ⁣
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When we “move on” it says that the moments we shared with that person or something are just moments that we can leave behind us, should leave behind us. You will notice people talk about people who have passed in present tense. I do not think they talk in present tense because they are in denial or forgetful but because that person or thing is very much present to us. It is present in our continuous days because that someone or something have impacted us on some sort of level but we need each other to remind one another that grief is a multitasking emotion.⁣
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We need to remember that a grieving person is going to laugh again and smile again but that does not mean they have “moved on”, instead they move forward with it.

Namaste!

Angie

Wellness Wednesday: We Are Human Beings Not Human Doings

“We are human beings, not human doings”

Some of us may gauge our success against something, measure our existence, quantify what we bring to the world. ⁣We may measure this through things like test scores, weight, calories, amount of friends, hours worked, income, etc.
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We often resort to this gauge more in times of stress and struggle because we often think our productivity is equivalent to the amount of “success” that we can achieve. However, we may find ourselves sacrificing the activities that sustain us, rejuvenate us, and help us evolve.
but i read somewhere recently that, “we are human 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, not human 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴”. ⁣

Our spiritual needs should occupy a space we hold closely as a reminder that we are allowed to wake up and simply exist. We can begin living for reasons that cannot be quantified. It is something many of us do not intend to do, to simply exist. We often feel that we have more pressing needs to be done. Sometimes it is absolutely necessary to stop trying to fix and analyze and instead simply exist because that’s just as necessary too, to nurture ourself, spend time with our thoughts, experience tranquility, and expand our spiritual boundaries.
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Namaste!

Angie

Wellness Wednesday: Self Criticism

Few people enjoy the company of individuals whose attitudes are persistently negative. Yet many of us tolerate the critism that can originate within our own minds. Since we are so used to the stream of self-limiting consciousness that infuses with our thoughts, we are often unaware of the impact it has on the life that we live. It is only when we become aware of the power we hold over of such thoughts that we can detach from them and initiate the light that we need.

When we become self critical, the only things we can see are the ways we need to perform, things we need to accomplish. But when we come from a grounded space of self compassion, it opens an awareness to our needs. We have the tendency to think, “if only I tried harder, increase the intensity, then I will see results”. We may notice our outcomes leave us feeling depleted. If instead focusing on performance and focused on our needs we begin to fill to nourish the emptiness caused by self criticism with the empowerment we need in order to flourish.

When we become aware of our thoughts, whether we precieve them positive or negative, we will gradually learn we have much control over our stream of consciousness. The awareness we cultivate within ourself will eventually enable us to build a more authentic existence.

Namaste!

Angie

Wellness Wednesday: Slowing in Observation

I often find myself during lunch breaks and daily about commutes around the city observing the hundreds of people passing in fast motion. With everyone so focused on their next task, I hink it is easy for us to feel obligated to accelerate our own speed along with it, until our productivity turns into frenzied accomplishment. We tend to disregard our natural rhythms because it seems we have to just keep up. In the end, rushing never gets us anywhere but on to the next activity or goal.

Observing those around me made me come to appreciate the moments we choose to be mindful and slow down to not only savor our experiences, but also allows us to fully focus our attention and energy on the task at hand. Moving at a slower place lets you get things done more efficiently, while rushing diminishes the quality of our work and our relationships. Slowing down also lets us be more mindful, deliberate, and fully present. When we slow down, we are giving ourselves the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves to our natural rhythms. We open ourselves the opportunity to become more curious of our surroundings, what we share with others and most importantly what is within us.

Slowing down allows us to disconnect from the frenzied pace so we can begin moving at our innate pace. The moments we choose to live in fast forward motion then become a conscious choice rather than an involuntary action.

Namaste!

Angie