Inviting Silence

When I embarked on meditating about 18 years ago, I began to invite silence into my life. Ever since those remarkable building blocks of meditation, I’ve continued building silence into each day. I always used to have music playing in my car, home, yard, in my ear while doing other things, and even in my office at work. I was using music to drown out anything and everything around me to create a sense of quiet and peace. While there’s nothing wrong with listening to music, I do feel not inviting silence into any space of my life is not a good thing. I may not hear life whisper to me. I may not hear what the universe is telling me.  

Like many of you, my mind and my body tend to work overtime. It is something I am aware of and consciously work at when I begin to drift in that direction. Although, the more space I make for silence, the more silence I keep building into my life. Now days you won’t find me constantly listening to music. By inviting silence, I have found solitude. In that solitude I am aware, I am present, I am centered, I am focused, I am calm, I am moved, and I am strengthened. I have a deeper sense of my needs. I feel more aligned with who I am and the universe at hand.

I believe we are all craving solitude, but we don’t really know what it is or what solitude can do for us. Invite silence into your life today. Hear for the first time what it is you need and find the solitude you didn’t know you are craving.

Take care,

Michelle

Photo © Jenn Miranda | Dreamstime.com

Whispering Words of Wisdom

...Whisper words of wisdom, let it be...
John Lennon and Paul McCartney

For anyone following this website over the years, you know I choose a word or phrase to become my theme, my keyword, or what could be considered my tag for the year. This annual theme is a powerful, positive connection that drives me to be the best I can be, and learn something about the power of that word in my life.

Last year’s word, listen, had a major impact for me throughout the year. It was as if I could hear it repeated in my head again and again - as if someone was whispering in my ear. What did this word do for me when I heard it whispering? If I was talking, I stopped mid-sentence to listen to what it was I was saying or to more clearly absorb the essence of the conversation around me. It may have been perplexing to others when I stopped mid-sentence, but I quite liked this more-quiet self. All the listening I did throughout the year guided me to hearing more deeply what was being said or what I was thinking. This listening helped me understand the circumstances of whatever was going on around me in a more meaningful way. I actually became quite fond of this powerful word. As I approached the end of the 2018 and thought about what the next year’s word may be, I found myself wanting to hold on to listen in order to discover more from it.

My word or theme, as mentioned previously for 2019, is centered around letting it BE. And I cannot BE if I’m not listening. Aha! I have continued to discover more from listening. If I hadn’t been listening so much last year, I may have had trouble letting it BE. Although, when I really think about it, I doubt letting it be would have surfaced had I not been listening to the whispering words of wisdom.

If you are having trouble with those resolutions you started, maybe it's time to listen, really listen to what words are whispering to you.

Michelle

Listen carefully photo courtesy of Justin Lynham

Silent Observations

Recently, when I traveled back home, there were a number of very personal, very adult type issues to deal with for a number of family members. My elderly parents had been making a series of upsetting decisions about how they were going to manage their ongoing health issues and care in their home. In doing so, they cut themselves off from those who loved them. Their choices led to a series of unfortunate events and finally the death of my stepfather in a serious fall. While the parental drama is still playing out with the future of my mother, I feel the power of It Is What It Is within me and know that whatever happens going forward is about the choices that have been made by others - not something I have any control over.

In a year when my theme word is listen, the more I listen, the quieter I get - but the more I hear and understand, strange thing, eh? Listening to what’s going on around me, what other people are saying, what I’m thinking, and what I’m feeling help me respond in a more centered way - help me to understand the moment. I’m less likely to react because I have this better understanding of the moment - what I need to say, or not say, what I need to do, or not do.

During all of this family drama, what could have been a very stressful time home for me - wasn’t. I became even more quiet in this year of listen, and focused on what it was I needed to do or not do in this scenario. This silent listening of the heart helped me respond in that centered way I spoke of. I was not reactionary - simply responding to what I was hearing, feeling and understanding within - what was appropriate for me in this situation. Strong emotions can get in the way at times like this and the need for control can be strong, but I released that need for control a long time ago. I was able to not get emotionally involved because I was listening, focusing - I did what I needed to do in clarity and have been able to carry on with my life and move forward.

My theme word listen has served me well so far this year and I continue to feel the centered peace it gives me. So, maybe all this listening business is not such a strange thing after all. I’ll leave you with this silent observation - listen and silent have the same letters! Perhaps listening would serve you well, too. Are you listening?

Take care, 

Michelle

Heart shaped cloud photo courtesy of prof.bizzarro

Shut My Mouth

I’m a very disciplined person. That may come from nearly 8 years of Catholic school. It was there I learned how discipline could work in my favor; because by listening, I was paying closer attention; by paying closer attention, my grades improved, and getting good grades in Catholic school moved me into the “golden child” level – in other words, I could get away with all sorts of things. So,when I embraced the word Listen for my word theme of 2018, it didn’t surprise me how quickly I adapted to shutting my mouth. Interestingly enough, I’m even sitting up straighter! Sister Angela would be proud.

During the first few days of listening, I was surprised by how much quieter I was. When I was by myself, my brain even stopped reeling with a myriad of jumbled thoughts! I like this. I like this a lot. While I try and live a quieter existence in my head, there’s always been a lot going on up there, so the focus of the year on listening will hopefully guide me to a renewed habit and way of being.

So here’s the thing, there’s listening, and there’s intently listening. I’ve been noticing this when engaged in a conversation and other people are oblivious to the fact that I haven’t even finished the answer to their question when they move on and begin talking about something else. Sometimes I’m mid-sentence! Sister Angela would call that interrupting, and you may have to stand in the corner for a time! I used to try and move the conversation back to the rest of my answer to their question, but I’m finding it best to just shut my mouth and see if anyone notices. So far, that hasn’t happened. I find this oddly amusing.

By reminding myself daily to listen, I can see we really don’t listen as much or as well as we think we do. Whether I’m observing, thinking about something, or in conversation - by intently listening, I’m more engaged and paying more attention. I find my mind is less likely to wander away from whatever it is I’m paying attention to. My awareness to listening is guiding me to see and hear things I might otherwise miss. Funny thing, I’m even more likely to shut my mouth. Sister Angela would give me a gold star for that!

Michelle

Angry Nun photo - I was not able to find a link to credit properly

Powerful Positive Words

As a new year ushers in, for me it brings with it a sense of new beginnings. I embrace this new beginning, and am encouraged by it. Each year I choose a powerful, positive word as a theme to guide me and empower me.

Last year, for the first time in 13 years, I struggled with my word theme more. Here’s an excerpt from the post I wrote at the start of 2017. I would like to be more centered, more focused, more random, more giving. I would like to listen more, laugh more, and love more. I want more of what life has to offer. That last sentence about did me in with this traveling life of mine. Over the last year and a half of full-time traveling, I became less centered and less focused on my needs. In my last post, I talked about realizing this by going with the flow but flowing right on by what keeps me at my best. So, what keeps me at me best? Many things actually, and they’re all centered around what it takes to keep me in balance. Balance is a word I used as a theme in 2014, but I’m taking a different slant on balance by embracing the word listen this year.

Listening is a truly powerful, positive word as I believe if I listen more, I’ll hear more. If I hear more, I just might learn more about me and the world around me. Thus, by listening and learning I will pay more attention and allow it to guide me to a more centered, focused, and balanced me. I could go on about my word, but instead I’ll refer back to it from time to time during posts this year. Let’s just say, I’ll keep you posted as to how well I’m listening and how this powerful, positive word is affecting me. 

I’ll begin my day with my word listen. As I fall to sleep I’ll remind myself how I’ve listened and what I’m learning – grateful to have such a powerful, positive word guiding me. And I can tell you this – I’ve already felt a slight shift! How are you going to begin your year? Join me and embrace a powerful, positive word you feel confident can guide you to whatever shift you need to make.

Michelle

Listen photo courtesy of Ky