Tag: heart

Be happy

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One of my meditation teachers used to end each of our interviews … and say to me, “Remember, Sylvia, be happy.”  I actually for a long time thought it was a salutation, like “have a good day” or something that you say just in a routine kind of a way, and it took me a long time to realize that it was an instruction, “Be happy.”

Not only that it was an instruction but that it was a wisdom transmission –  that happiness was a possibility. I understand that happiness to mean,  the happiness of a mind that’s alert, that’s awake to the amazing potential of being a person in a life, with a mind that’s opened, that sees everything that’s going on, and realizes what an amazing possibility this is, and with a heart that’s open, the heart that responds naturally as hearts do, in compassion, in connection with friendliness, with love, with consolation when it needs to:  

That that’s the happiness of life –  a mind that’s awake, a heart that’s engaged... I want to say that really what I think about when my teacher said to me, “Be happy,” is be awake, be alert, stay in your life, stay present to it. She said at another point, “It’s your life, Sylvia, don’t miss it.” That’s been a very important thing.

Sylvia Boorstein’s keynote speech Stanford University 2005

Appreciate the moments

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You should be experiencing the life that happening to you,

Not the one you wish was happening.

Don’t waste a moment of life trying to make other things happen;

Appreciate the moments you are given

Michael Singer, The Untethered Soul

Sunday Quote: What will engage you?

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Therefore, tell me:
what will engage you?
What will open the dark fields of your mind,
like a lover
at first touching?

Mary Oliver, Flare

Play

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Once a day, take a moment to remember your real life’s work and differentiate it from the games you play in order to achieve it.

Then, commit to playing wholeheartedly…

I’ve mentioned the idea of using the word play to replace the word work. If you have no way to feel playful doing your work, get different work.

This is not to say that play is easy. Real creativity, which is the essence of play, can feel absolutely grueling. But ultimately there is a sense of joy and meaning in having done it. The essential self doesn’t mind hard work. But it will reject meaningless work.

Martha Beck Blog, I Rest my Pace

the real questions

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The word for September in the Irish language is Meán Fómhair, which can be translated as “Mid harvest”

Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love?’ These are the real questions.

I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.

Henri Nouwen

ordinary life

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Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may be admirable
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples, and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.

William Martin 1925-2010, English poet