August of Self

Self-love is something that you already carry within. It is not something that you have to achieve, but rather, you simply dissolve the illusionary programs and filters that prevent you from experiencing more of that self-love. 

 ~ The Great Human Potential, Tom Kenyon & Wendy Kennedy

Leggo My Ego

In the words of Catrina McaFate:

It has been estimated by the Mental Health Association that some 19 million people in the US are affected by depression each year.

Spiritual teacher Ravi Shankar, says that it’s because our mind is fixated on thoughts of, “What about me?,” “What about me?,” “What about me?”

In fact, many spiritual teachers have said similar things. Buddha’s prescription for happiness is to forget yourself and love others. His Holiness the Dalai Lama says: People who have the tendency to use more self-referential terms (I, me, myself) tend to have MORE HEALTH PROBLEMS AND EARLIER DEATHS. Being self-absorbed has an immediate effect of narrowing one’s focus and blurring one’s vision.

A part of us already knows that self-obsession can lead to a downward spiral. The other part has a hard time letting go of our ego driven mindset because quite frankly, we are unaware that it even exists. Let’s face the facts of our inner world. When we are having a bad day, where is our mind? Are we aware? If we do become aware of our mind we find that it is usually not thinking about how to save the world or how to help others.  Most of the time, it is thinking things like, “Why did this happen to me?” or, “If I just get this over with, then I will relax!” or, “He/She always does this to me!”  We are victims of our own minds.  We could be in a tropical paradise and not care or notice because we are in an egotistical, self-absorbed, complaining mode. Have you experienced this?

So what is the solution?

To read the rest of the article, go here

The Power of Self-Esteem

Words from Dr. Lad:

“Self-esteem is at the core of healing. Because of the connectedness of mind and body, our sense of self-esteem is our cells’ sense of self-esteem. This is because, according to Ayurveda, every cell is a center of intelligence and awareness. Every cell carries the sense of self for its own survival. It is the sense of self in the cell that maintains the size and shape of the cell. Self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-respect promote cellular intelligence, which is necessary for proper cell function and immunity.

Modern science is just now acknowledging the importance of the mind-body connection, but knowledge of it has been part of Ayurveda for five thousand years. Our sense of self, our attitudes and understandings, our feelings, are all psycho-biological events. Self-esteem is one such event, one that is strengthening to our cells and to all aspects of our bodies. A lack of self-confidence and self-love is detrimental.

Cancer is an example of this lack. Cancer cells have lost their intelligence and grow separate from the body. They are irregular and robust and have an isolated, selfish sense of self which is in conflict with the life of normal, healthy cells. When cancer occurs, it’s as if a war is going on between the cancerous cells and the healthy cells. If the healthy cells are strong enough in self-esteem, they can conquer and kill the cancer cells. But if we do not have enough self-esteem and self-respect, then the cancer cells will win and will conquer the healthy cells.

Thus self-esteem is important for maintaining immunity. If you love yourself as you are, you will develop confidence, and that will heal disease. That is why cellular immunity, or natural resistance, depends upon self-esteem.”

Dr. Vasant Lad, M.A. Sc. "The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies"

#truth

Playing Small for the Sake of Others

My words:

Something that has been showing up lately is the idea of "playing small". Wanting everyone around me to feel comfortable and shrinking myself because of it. I also see that I can make more work for myself so that it's easier for others. However, what if it actually hinders rather than helps people to be catered to? What if it meant more for the growth of everyone involved to be assumed competent and strong? Would it empower and inspire?

These were some of the ideas I brought awareness to this time last year at a women's retreat upstate. That weekend I made a new "agreement" with myself that it was OKAY to honor my own experience and take care of myself. It felt liberating to release this need I had to try and alter/sacrifice my plans/comfort to accommodate someone else's.

As I mentioned, this trend began surfacing again in the last few weeks. It's made me realize that deep rooted habits do not pass easily and it is a continuous effort to release years worth of beliefs and ideas. It would be easy to get frustrated and upset, but this time I'm going easy on myself and remembering - it's a journey.