State of Being
Serenity is defined as a state of being in which a person is untroubled, calm, and peaceful. I began seeking and exploring this state of being quite early in my adult life. As a member of Al-Anon, my mind opened to the possibility of developing this trait rather than continuing to try to fix and/or change others. That was a gift I do not even try to describe! It was during those mid-life years that I discovered yoga and meditation as tools to bring balance to my life mentally, emotionally, and physically. As you may know, I taught Hatha yoga for many years and that included a brief meditation at the end of practice. I also began holding monthly full moon meditations for those interested. During those years, I was privileged to witness transformation in my students as they became faithful to their own practices, desires, and goals.
Life is definitely a journey of discovery. Discovery includes trying on different types of exercise, exploring meditation to find what fits personally, and giving oneself time to mature in order to live one's personal truth consistently. For me, a large portion of the growth process was to live without the need to explain or defend myself and to allow others to do the same.
I am inviting you to consider the following and ask yourself if you have practices or routines that create and sustain these in your life:
Serenity is
a state of being - this does not demand that we are serene 24 hours a day. Like hunger, we become aware when life challenges us in a way that we are not feeling calm and peaceful and untroubled. We can ask ourselves a few gentle questions to help us recognize how to love and nurture ourselves with compassion.
How does feeling untroubled manifest in my life? For me, I become physically restless. I might pace or feel hungry when I'm really not. I don't sleep as well.
What am I like when I am calm? My reactions to life's challenges elicit easier problem-solving. I eat normally and sleep better. My body remains quiet and my thoughts aren't all over the place.
What does peaceful mean to me? It very simply means being full of peace on every level of my human existence: mental, emotional, physical.
A major key for me is that being calm & peaceful is not about controlling outer circumstances or people. It is about knowing myself and creating my personal experiences in life from the inside out!
Contact me with questions, appointment requests, or whatever is on your mind and heart: [email protected] Please consider joining my online meditation groupπ
