inspiration – Page 33 – Mindfulbalance

Moments are all we have

February 23, 2016February 23, 2016 Karl Duffy1 Comment

forest light 2

Small moments or days are enough to see the richness of life, if we are able to pay attention and give ourselves fully:

What is this dark hum among the roses?
The bees have gone simple, sipping,
that’s all. What did you expect? Sophistication?
They’re small creatures and they are
filling their bodies with sweetness, how could they not
moan in happiness? The little
worker bee lives, I have read, about three weeks.
Is that long? Long enough, I suppose, to understand
that life is a blessing.

Mary Oliver, Hum

Seeing the magic today

February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 Karl Duffy2 Comments

tree light

The world is full of magic things

patiently waiting for our senses to get sharper

wb Yeats

Sunday Quote: Waking up

January 31, 2016January 16, 2016 Karl Duffy4 Comments

It is a serious thing

just to be alive

on this fresh morning

in the broken world.

Mary Oliver

photo sharon mollerus

More conscious living

January 30, 2016January 30, 2016 Karl Duffy2 Comments

Dear Mother Earth, as a human family, we have allowed greed and consumerism to prevail. We have been running after status, wealth, power and sensual comforts, forgetting that these things can never bring us true happiness and freedom. We have been so busy trying to cover up the feeling of emptiness inside, that we have not taken the time or space to stop and ask ourselves what we are doing, or where we are going. In the process, we have caused great harm to you, dear Mother Earth, destroying your natural richness, beauty and balance.

Aware of this, we are determined to simplify our life, to stop running, and to remember that in the present moment we already have enough conditions to be happy. With the energy of mindfulness and compassion we feel truly fulfilled and content. In the coming year, we are determined to consume less and to live in such a way that is sustainable for ourselves and for you, Mother Earth.

New Year 2016 Prayer, Plum Village Community, France

Step by step

January 17, 2016January 16, 2016 Karl Duffy1 Comment

The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey

is the step that you are taking at this moment.

That’s all there ever is.

Eckhart Tolle

photo japanese gardens kildare, peter clarke

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

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