Depression and Spiritual Awakening

Ted Talk with Lisa Miller

 

Life gets busy.  Sometimes it is so FULL that you do not even know if you’re enjoying one bit of it.  You might hear yourself sigh more, dropping or forgetting things and just noticing a negative attitude leaking and then pouring out.  I looked at our calendar and realized there are no breaks for a while, no days just to catch up or be lazy.  I quickly realized that this was stressful and bringing on my ‘Negative Nancy’ alter ego.

This is life.  It’s what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans, right?  It’s the days that make your head spin, the meetings you dread, the family in town, the trips to pack and plan for and the endless laundry, dishes and toys to clean up.  This is life.  It’s not next month and it doesn’t reside in the quiet moments alone.  It can be loud, messy and unrelenting.  I literally said out loud, “you can go with the flow and enjoy what your life is right now or you can fight it, wish it away and even break down into tears. What’s it gonna be?”   Without a breath, my heart and brain jumped to: “ENJOY!!”  Nothing horrible is happening, it’s just a fast flow right now.

We can enjoy.

 

Any pace is a good pace. Be gentle with your soul and steady your heart.

 Trust your process.

Below you will find attainable goals for enjoying and soaking in the very moment you ARE!  If there is one of these mindfulness moments that speaks to you- start small and simply with 2-5 minutes or 1-2 thoughts or 3-5 breaths.  It doesn’t have to be a massive shift in your world and day to make a difference in your perspective with time.

Mindfulness Moments: 

• Gratitude Journal / Board (on your fridge, bathroom mirror or office desk.  1-2 pieces each day that brought joy, a smile, a sigh of relief….
• A midday ‘Breather’.  Set an alarm on your phone or computer for the time of day you like to grab coffee or a snack or check Facebook quickly.  Instead or in addition to this break, take a Breather, 3-5 breathes.  Count your inhale and exhale and bring them to an balanced number.  For instance, a 3 second inhale and a 3 second exhale.
• Name a Yoga Pose or any posture that you feel good and revitalized within and start your day with that pose, while in the kitchen making breakfast or even while you are still in bed!
• Name a Yoga Pose that brings comfort and end you day with 1 pose, while you’re watching a show or brushing your teeth, or when you settle into bed.

Small steps that are achievable in our busy lives is the key to bringing in a new habit. They will grow naturally with time if they serve you and if they don’t experiment with a new Moment just for you.

When you are outside in the coming days, in your garden or on a city street, practice a feeling of appreciation for all that you observe.  To the plant: you are my favorite plant.  To the bird:  you are my favorite bird.  To the car passing:  you are my favorite car even though you are rattling or blowing smoke, you are still my favorite car.  To the crack in the sidewalk: you are my favorite winding crack in the cement. To the cloud: you are my favorite fluffy cloud in the sky.

This practice will assist in uplifting you and you will in turn be better able to uplift others.

 

Sit and listen.  Breath and listen.  Be bored and listen.  Get sleepy and listen.  Stretch and listen.  We have so many questions and wonders – and Life is answering us in every moment.

If you love the taste of butter without always eating a large amount of fats you can make your own Ghee this weekend!!  Ghee has a more intense flavor, a high smoke point (485* F)and does not need to be refrigerated.

1. Cut two sticks of unsalted butter into chunks and put in a sauce pan on med, low heat.  It is easy to burn the fat so don’t go do other chores, watch this and stay in the kitchen!  Take it from me 🙂
2. Let is boil and foam, it will dissipate and foam again.  This is a 10-15 minute process.  After that second boil/foam, turn heat off, let is cool slightly and pour through a fine mesh strainer.  There should be solid fats at the bottom and or in your strainer.
3. What is left -is Ghee! A healthier butter with a nutty, rich flavor.

Ghee is considered “liquid gold” and revered in Indian culture (and has been for centuries).  It is quite expensive in the store and so easy to make.

Benefits:

• a great source of fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin K and is great for teeth, hair, skin and nails.
• Rich and Fat soluble Vitmain A, D, E
• Milk proteins are removed in this process. (Casein free)
• Contains Butyrate, an Essential Short-Chain Fatty Acid.

Open and strong posture can be a key piece to feeling positive about the day ahead.  First thing or throughout the day try these simple stretches to begin and refresh the approach to what lies ahead.

1. Use a Yoga Strap, belt or piece of clothing: hold this taut between each hand behind your hips.  Inhale your chest lifted and exhale your shoulder blades down, inhale your hands away from your body behind you, exhale your belly button toward your spine.  Hold this chest opening for a few breaths or let it rise and fall with 4-5 breaths.
2. Hold this strap overhead taut, hands about shoulder width apart.  Draw your upper arms away from your peripheral vision as your shoulder blades reach toward your spine and exhale down toward your sacrum.
3. Find a tall stance with grounded, broad feet.  Soften your knees and swing your arms from one side to the other.  With each swing, bend your knees and find a rhythm with your breath.  20 breaths.  Stand still, grounded and tall – shake your hands, arms and shoulders as if to ‘shake off’ any extra heavy energy from the following day or hour.

Lengthen your collar bones, lead with your sternum, take a deep belly breath and GO!

Placing a smile on your face, even when you may not feel like smiling can be the fastest path in spiraling upwards.  Lift yourself and others with a smile!