I admitted that I find myself walking through the school halls, head down, hoping no one will talk to me – not because I don’t like them, but because I’m thinking “If I talk to them I won’t get to what I need to do to start my day”.
When I’m in this mode, I’m not being kind to myself and I don’t notice what others need, whether it’s just a smile or a few minutes of my time.
I now feel empowered to follow the advice of one of the teachers at Clear Sky, to “Take action, and let the chips fall where they may.”
After all, a pattern of confusion stems from and continues a hurt. Being empowered to act brings joy.
One of our regular blog contributors, and the Secretary of our Board of Directors, Dan O’Brien, has just completed another cabin retreat at Clear Sky. Before he went into retreat, he wrote the following thoughts about why he does regular meditation retreats. Dan: One of the key ways I nurture myself is by taking the
While on retreat one time, I noticed that going over and over my story about “me” in my head is not useful, calming, or satisfying, even though it may seem so.
Self doubt – it’s useless and painful.
Newsflash, though – since it is created by thinking a certain way, the good news is that it be changed. In other words:
It’s not necessary and can be transformed
Dan O’Brien shares a little of his early story.
“For me…learning about meditation has been like being cooked in a slow cooker – in a good way…”
“Being open to the newness of the experience is often important, though it might be a challenge.”
“So often in my life, I’ve wanted to feel included, engaged, and to be relating with others, but I’ve found that there’s a true connection lacking.”
Board Member Dan O’Brien writes about one of the insights he has had being part of Clear Sky’s virtual and physical community.
* Personal Retreat Cabins:
OPEN during COVID. We’ve redesigned our personal retreat packages. Check out our Practice and Integrate Retreat, which offers a supportive balance of formal meditation and mindful activity.
* Integrating Mindfulness: Tools for Holistic Living (Online or In-Person)
September 11 – October 16, 2021
In order to maintain a sense of purpose and connection, we have to learn how to embody mindfulness while navigating the pressures of daily life. Integrating Mindfulness helps you cultivate a supportive container for personal sustainability.
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