Mindfulbalance

Perspective

January 15, 2016January 15, 2016 Karl Duffy2 Comments

“Is my life meaningful?” When I ask the question this way the perspective is very different. Now my happiness will no longer depend upon my never getting sick, or upon my not getting lonely, or upon my never being misunderstood, or upon my never making wrong choices, or on somehow being exempt from death’s shadow. Life can be frustrating and still be very meaningful. We can be lonely, sick, sorrowful about wrong choices, over-worked and unappreciated, staring old age and death in the face and still experience deep meaning. Happiness will be a by-product of that.

Are my symbols working? Does my life have a meaning?

The question about happiness comes after that question.

Ron Rolheiser, Happiness and Meaning

Opportunities

January 14, 2016January 9, 2016 Karl Duffy3 Comments

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There is a simple question that helps me to practice the second step of gratitude: “What’s my opportunity here?” You will find that most of the time, the opportunity that a given moment offers you is an opportunity to enjoy – to enjoy sounds, smells, tastes, texture, colors, and, with still deeper joy, friendliness, kindness, patience, faithfulness, honesty, and all those gifts that soften the soil of our heart like warm spring rain. The more we practice awareness of the countless opportunities to simply enjoy, the easier it becomes to recognize difficult or painful experiences as opportunities, as gifts.

David Steindl-Rast, Awake, Aware and Alert

photo alan murray-rust

Keeping watch

January 13, 2016January 12, 2016 Karl Duffy2 Comments

More on thoughts as constructive or destructive, this time from an early Christian monk who was remarkable for his insights into processes of the mind or heart. His encouragement to be watchful of what thoughts we dwell on and resist negative, self-critical, ones, is very similar to one of the descriptions found in ancient texts of mindfulness as a gatekeeper, and to exercises used in modern Cognitive Behavioural Therapy:

Be the guardian of your own heart and do not let any thought pass through without checking them! Ask each one of them: “Are you from our side or from that of those against us?“. If they come from your own house, they will fill you full of peace, but if they come from your enemy they will stir up anger and agitate your emotions.

Evagrius Pontius, 345 – 399.

photo guus van der valk

Disapproving

January 12, 2016January 11, 2016 Karl Duffy1 Comment

Everyone’s mind likes saying “but.”

Thinking you are doing it wrong, that the conditions of your life stop you from making friends with yourself – these thoughts might get in the way of noticing what it is like to be you. You might disapprove of who you are, but disapproving is just another way of not being here.

In this case, making friends with yourself could mean lowering your standards….

John Tarrant, What’s it Like to be You?

photo Ian Kirk

Welcome

January 11, 2016January 9, 2016 Karl Duffy3 Comments

Wherever you are, just try being the host.
You will always be at home.

Linji Yixuan, Chan Buddhist, died 866

Sunday quote: Inner wisdom

January 10, 2016February 18, 2017 Karl DuffyLeave a comment

File:Tamme eend wammes.jpg

There is an inner wakefulness…

that will eventually

startle us back

to the truth of

who we are.

Rumi

About this Blog

Mindfulbalance supports the slow, patient practice of mindfulness meditation, as a way to find balance and meaning in life, reduce stress and develop health and wellbeing. It contains reflections to encourage the practice of meditation as well as occasional posts from psychology, spirituality and the wisdom traditions. The daily posts are prompted by Rilke's advice: "Write about what your everyday life offers you, your sorrows and desires, the thoughts that pass through your mind, and your belief in some kind of beauty". Written in County Laois, Ireland