At Least...

Hello everyone, it's been quite a while since I've written anything here, but I've decided to take it up again and see where it goes. Seeing as it's been so long, I think it would be best to treat this like running and just start slow.

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." -The Buddha

I think that this one is pretty much self-explanatory, the best kind.

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

Enjoy the Scenery

If you've lived for forty minutes, you know that a plan rarely goes off without a hitch, especially when it comes to the big plans. It's often quite difficult to adjust to changes and sometimes, you are even forced to scrap plans altogether. Then what?

When the world takes a turn we don't expect, we often get a little bummed out. "Why did this have to happen? Everything would have been perfect if it had just gone the way I wanted." All too often, I see people, rather than living in the present reality, living in the past non-reality, the point where the old adage "coulda, woulda, shoulda" comes in, or setting themselves up for hardship by basing their happiness on certain expectations of the future. Rather than enjoying the present moment, many decide that they're not happy now because their life could and should be some other way.

Live in the Present Moment

If you want to be truly happy, at any moment in time, stop and be mindful of the present moment. Look around you and see all that is wonderful in your life.

Does this mean that you shouldn't have plans or expectations? Absolutely not! Plans and expectations are there to point you in the right direction, to give you guidance as to where you want to go and how to get there. Developing yourself into a better, happier person is what life's all about. But as I've said before, don't focus so much on the destination and start to enjoy the journey.

If you want to be a healthier person, you should set a goal, for example, to develop a habit of going running five days a week by the end of this month. By the end of this month, if you only go three days a week, does that mean you are a failure? Does this mean that you haven't become a healthier person? Not at all! You've successfully developed a new habit of going 3 days a week, you have succeeded in becoming a healthier person. You should relish in the fact that you have developed and improved yourself. You pointed yourself in a certain direction and you progressed in that direction, and the fact that you didn't make it as far as you wanted doesn't mean you would've been better off not trying at all. See the positives in all situations and you will never have a failure, just a smaller step in the right direction.

If you end up on a road you didn't expect, enjoy the scenery :)

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

Beginning Mindfulness Meditation

One of the key teachings of Buddhism is the concept of mindfulness. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the calm awareness of one's body functions, feelings, content of consciousness, or consciousness itself. It is the constant observation of ones thoughts and actions which allows one to evaluate them and make better choices. Such observations can often result in the realization that a particular thought is unnecessary or not sensible, alleviating worry and stress.

Here is a brief meditative technique that anyone can use to de-stress, cultivate clearer thinking, and in the end, become more mindful.

1. Sit down and cross your legs in front of you. Sit up straight and rest your hands in your lap. Close your eyes. Breathe normally.
2. Just sit and observe all the thoughts that are flowing around in your head. Just look at them. Observe how your brain transitions from one thought to the other without hesitation. Just observe the beauty of how your mind works.
3. Ask yourself how you're feeling at that moment and be honest with yourself. Are you irritated about something? Is there something that your longing for? What's on the forefront of your mind?
4. Now step back for a minute and ask yourself why you're feeling this way. What is it that make you angry? What is at the base of this anger? Is it that you wish something turned out differently? Is it that you're not satisfied with someone else's personality or actions? Examine what it truly at the root of the emotions that are taking over the way you think and controlling your actions. You may find that they're based in a selfish reason or a desire for something other than what you have been left with.
5. Take a deep breath and tell yourself that it will be alright. Take another deep breath and think about something you loved about the day you had. Think of something in your life that is bringing you joy.
6. Smile and open your eyes. Go and enjoy the world.

If you're emotions begin to get in the way of your happiness, close your eyes and see if this helps to make it better :)

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

Compassion: Where to Begin?

How does one go about becoming more compassionate? Where do we begin building such a significant habit that our goal is to change our outlook on life? I definitely couldn't remember all that goes into it, I mean, I have trouble remembering to take a vitamin everyday.

In reality, there aren't rules to remember or guidelines to follow to become "perfectly" loving to all beings. It doesn't even take a total overhaul of your belief system to push you in the right direction.

So how do you go about it? Slowly.

One small action at a time is all it takes to become more compassionate. Stop and focus on the moment you're in right now. When you meet someone, don't look at the overall picture of compassion, simply focus on your current interaction. Say to yourself, "How can I make my interaction with this person more beneficial, substantial and positive for our combined existence?" Will telling the person that you're furious with them and that they're a terrible friend improve your relationship?

All it takes is mindfulness.

Be mindful in your interactions. Examine what you're doing and ask if it's for the best.

Task for Today

If you'd like a more concrete way to practice, begin today by complimenting 5 people that you don't know very well. It can be based on a physical observation but the preference would be a compliment based on an aspect of their personality. Find something you truly admire about the person and let them know.

Repeat this task daily and you will be on your way.

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

Appreciate Your Surroundings

How often do you stop and look around? I don't mean when you're looking for someone in a crowded room, I mean when you're walking through campus on your way to class or when you're in the car driving to work or maybe when you're sitting at lunch. I feel like all too often we're so intent on getting ourselves to a destination that we miss the joy that comes from the journey.

When the Buddha first attained Enlightenment (and presumably from that point on out), it is said that his mind was so sensitive that he noticed that flap of every wing of every bee, the fall of every rain drop, the sound of every breeze. His mind was in a perfect state of awareness which allowed him to enjoy all that occurred around him in incredible, beautiful detail.

If this is the optimal state of mind and awareness, then where does that put us when we drive for thirty minutes to work and don't realize that they're building a new mall along the way, or when we sit on the bus with only one other person and don't realize that they are reading our favorite book?

Let's try to move toward the sort of awareness and mindfulness that the Buddha experienced.

"People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child — our own two eyes. All is a miracle." -Thich Nhat Hanh

When you realize that you're on autopilot, stop and look around. Be mindful of where you are and what you're doing. Find something beautiful that you would not have noticed otherwise and appreciate it.

Begin to appreciate the journey, not just the destination.


Smile, breathe, and go slowly.