Rhythms of Life: Doing and Nondoing

Alternation is a natural rhythm that is woven into the fabric of life on this planet.  We go back and forth between day and night and the seasons of the year.  By tuning into and aligning ourselves with alternation, we can come into deeper harmony with life.  When alternation is not naturally present, by creating it, we bring our lives into greater balance

Consciously alternating between doing and nondoing is a very powerful lifestyle practice.  It can free us from attachments and habits and transform the quality of our experience.

In our society, with its outside-in orientation, doing and achieving are generally valued more highly than nondoing and being.  We are constantly in motion, trying to make things happen the way we want them to happen.  We become human doings, identifying with our accomplishments rather our state of being.

This approach is very stressful.  We put ourselves under continual pressure to perform.  This self-imposed pressure often leads to erratic performance, not to mention unhappiness.

The antidote for this is to take frequent breaks from activity.  Be still for a moment and check in with yourself.  If there is an accumulation of stress in your body/mind, let yourself feel that for a moment.   Notice what is without judging or resisting.  Then, put your attention on the one who is noticing.  Take a moment or two to relax into yourself, feeling that sense of peaceful awareness that’s always present, just waiting for you to slow down enough to notice it once again.

When you resume activity, the movement will come from a very different place than before.  It will tend to be effortless and natural, perhaps even joyful.  The stress that comes from pushing yourself will be gone.

In my next blog, I’ll have more say about the benefits of this lifestyle practice and how to make it a regular part of your life.

Success Strategy: Playing Life Inside Out

(c) MCStrom Photos

There are two ways to play the game of life—outside-in and inside-out.

We live in a culture which is heavily oriented toward outside-in.  Unfortunately that’s a losing strategy.  When we seek happiness. through relationships, money, achievements, etc, we are setting ourselves up for a life of struggle and stress.  When we don’t have the things we think we need, we’re unhappy. Even when the circumstances of our lives are to our liking, we’ll be afraid they won’t last.

Fortunately there is a another option, inside-out.  This means making our inner objectives the priority.  Unlike the outer stuff which is constantly changing, coming and going, the inner riches are always present.  Finding them is really just a matter of breaking our habit of looking outside,  bringing our attention inside, and finding that what we most deeply yearn for is already here.

When we play inside out, we’re freed up to play our best in the outer game.  Let me give an example.  Say you’re playing tennis (a game I’ve spent umpteen hours playing and coaching).  If you’re playing outside-in, you’re focused mainly on the score.  You put a lot of pressure on yourself to win.  Because of this,  your strokes are likely to be tight and not as consistent as they could be.  You certainly aren’t enjoying the game fully.   If you do win, you might experience some momentary relieve, but probably not real joy.  If you lose, you’ll be miserable.

On the other hand, if you go out on the court with the goal of simply having fun and enjoying hitting the ball, then you’ll be relaxed.  Your strokes will be fluid and natural.  You’ll play your best while having a great time.  Of course, you still might lose the match if your opponent is a better player than you, but this won’t disturb your happiness.

The same principle works in a job interview.  If you’re desperate for the job, you’ll be nervous and won’t be at the top of your game.  If you walk in focused on enjoying getting to know the interviewer, you’ll relax, connect deeply, and do your best.   It may happen that someone else is much better qualified and gets the job, but you’ll have won the inner game and played your best in the outer game, which is all you can truly ask for, in the outer game.

So, which strategy will you choose, outside-in or inside-out?

Andrew Oser has been offering spiritual life coaching, along with guided retreats on Mount Shasta since 1982.   Through hikes to little-known sacred sites, guided meditations, spiritual life coaching, and time drinking in the silence of the mountain, he helps clients to deeply renew themselves in body, mind, and spirit and receive clear vision for their lives.

Spiritual Life Coaching: What's Your #1 Priority for 2015?

When a New Year begins,  a  powerful wave of energy is unleashed.  You can ride this wave in whatever direction you choose.  

Are you clear about what your top priority is for 2015?  If not, I encourage you to take some time to look deeply at this before we get much further into the New Year.

As you reflect, you might want to write down several of your highest priorities and come up with a short list.  To determine, which priority is truly your highest, pick any two items from the list and ask if you could have just one of these, which would you choose.  For example, perhaps you have good health and increasing your income by 50% on your list.  If you could have just one, which would you choose?

Whichever of the two wins out, test it against another priority on your list.  Keep doing this until you’ve come up with your # 1 priority.

Once you determine your top priority, it will be in one of two broad categories, inner (peace, love, freedom, etc.)  and outer (money, relationship, job, etc.). 

If you find that your #1 priority is in the inner realm,  this is a great blessing.  Give thanks  and know that if you truly dedicate yourself to this priority, nothing can stop can you. 

 

Trust that if you make the inner game your priority, you will be freed up to play whatever outer games you are drawn to with increasing ease and grace.  As the great master, Jesus, put it, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Whatever you are seeking in your inner experience is available NOW.  The gifts of spirit are offered only in the present.   The key is breaking the habit of being constantly distracted by thoughts, sensations, and events and bringing your attention deeply into the present.

There are, of course, many ways to do this.  Here are three simple keys that might be useful

1)      When you awaken each morning, before doing anything, take at least a few minutes to deeply focus within,  setting a tone for the day

2)      Take frequent short breaks, no matter how busy you are, to remember your top priority and bring attention back into the present

3)      Set time aside for at least one longer spiritual retreat and several short retreats during the year.

If  your #1priority is in the outer realm, embrace this reality.  Visualize yourself accomplishing/having this priority.  Imagine how that might feel and experience that feeling Now as deeply as you can.

Then, ask yourself, "What are the most powerful steps I can take today or this week to move toward tmy priority?"  As you take these steps, do your best to stay in the present without attachment to outcomes.  Remember that life is a game and, as much as possible, enjoy the challenge of pursuing your dream in 2015.

Andrew Oser has been offering spiritual life coaching, along with guided retreats on Mount Shasta since 1982.   Through hikes to little-known sacred sites, guided meditations, spiritual life coaching, and time drinking in the silence of the mountain, he helps clients to deeply renew themselves in body, mind, and spirit and receive clear vision for their lives.

Life Coaching: Catching the New Year's Wave

At the beginning of a New Year, a powerful wave of fresh energy is launched.  If you’re open, you can catch that wave and make positive changes in your life.

Here are a few practices I’ve found effective in getting my New Year off to a great start:

1) Take some time between today to review the past year.  If you notice any judgments of yourself or others coming up, allow yourself to deeply feel the judgment, then choose to forgive and come back into peace.  For a very effective, step-by-step forgiveness process, try my friend Ana Holub’s Prayer Sandwich.

2)  As midnight approaches on New Year’s Eve, reflect on which quality (e.g., joy, abundance, acceptance, etc), you want to more fully bring forth in your life in the coming year.  As the clock strikes midnight, focus on that quality.  Depending on your style and the setting, you may silently contemplate it or yell it out.

3) On January 1, ask for a fresh vision for the New Year.  Go into the Silence, receive the vision, and write it down.

4) Then, ask yourself, “What are my #1 inner and outer goals for 2015?”  Write them down.  Then ask, “What can I do in the first 10 days of the New Year to build momentum toward those goals?”  Write down these action steps.

2015 can be the year you begin to fully live your purpose and find true happiness.  These simple practices will help you start the year with a burst of fresh energy.

Building a Bridge from your Retreat to Your Life Back Home

Do you find that after you come home from a spiritual retreat in Mount Shasta or some other powerful spot the sense of magic and new possibilities quickly fades away?

To prevent this from happening, make sure to take time while you’re on retreat to build a bridge to your life back home.

Once you’ve immersed yourself deeply in the joy of the present, take some time to look at your life from a clear, nonjudgmental space. Notice which areas of your life are already in alignment with the Truth of who know yourself to be now. Also, note areas where there’s disharmony, struggle, stress, etc. Write down action steps which can bring these areas more into alignment with the inspiration and clarity you’ve tapped into during your retreat. Make sure that some, if not all, of these action steps are simple and easy to do (i.e., making a phone call, scheduling a meeting, etc.).

Also, take time to reflect upon and write down the insights and realizations you’ve had during your retreat. Ask yourself “How can I bring these realizations home with me?” For example, you might want to consider purchasing a picture of your retreat site or special memento which you keep in your bedroom or office. Or you may want to commit to a new daily practice or ritual that will keep the flame in your heart burning strong.

When you arrive home, do at least one of your action steps the first day you’re back and as many as possible the first week. Also, make sure to spend time in nature and some time doing the spiritual practices you used on the retreat. This will help integrate the gifts from your retreat into your daily life. Do your very best not to get so busy catching up on everything that you get overwhelmed and stressed out. By choosing to go on retreat, you demonstrated a strong commitment to your well-being. Honor this commitment and the time you invested in your retreat by truly making a new beginning in your life.

For a Successful Retreat: Alternate Between Stillness and Movement

In a prior blog, I talked about the importance of starting your retreat off gently.  Once you’re rested and relaxed, you’re ready to dive into the heart of your retreat.  If you’re like most retreatants, your intention for the retreat is probably renewal, connection, awakening, or something in that ballpark.

I’ve found that it is very effective to alternate intensive spiritual focus with physical activity. Spend time sitting and meditating, praying, chanting or whatever helps you connect with God (or whatever name you use for Higher Power/Self ). 

At home, perhaps all you can do is take 20 minutes to meditate before rushing off to work.  But, on retreat, you have the great luxury of taking all the time you want to drink deeply of the nectar that always Present. 

If you’re like me, after a while your body will let you know that it’s time to move.  No need to be ascetic and power through your body’s messages, sitting until it screams at you in intense pain.

It’s natural and healthy to intersperse being still with hiking, swimming, yoga,  biking, or other physical activity. By alternating the spiritual practice and exercise, you will ground whatever new energies and realizations you’ve received.

While hiking or engaging in other physical activity, practice being in the present moment. One simple way to do this is to notice your breath and to be grateful for the gift of life so freely given.  If you’re hiking in a beautiful spot like Mount Shasta, you might also want to play with shifting focus between different senses.  First perhaps focus on the feeling of the Earth beneath your feet, then on listening to the sounds around you, and next on seeing the details of whatever setting you’re in.

Have fun playing with different mindfulness exercises and seeing what works best for you.  When you notice your mind going to the past or future, simply be grateful for that awareness. Gratitude will bring you right back into the joy of the present.

When considering this alternation of stillness and movement, I like to use the analogy of pouring and drinking a cup of tea.  When you meditate, you’re filling your cup.  If you keep sitting for unnaturally long periods of time, it’s like trying to pour more tea into a full cup.  But, if you take a break to exercise, you’re drinking the tea.  Then, you can come back to sit with an empty cup and once again be filled with the gifts of Spirit.

Andrew Oser has been offering guided retreats and spiritual journeys on Mount Shasta since 1982.   Through hikes to little-known sacred sites, guided meditations, spiritual life coaching, and time drinking in the silence of the mountain, he helps clients to deeply renew themselves in body, mind, and spirit and receive clear vision for their lives.  For more information, check www.mountshastaretreat.net

 

Retreats: Letting go of Concepts and Doing What Works

When you’re on a solo retreat, it’s an awesome time to deepen your trust in your self.  It’s powerful to practice following your heart moment-by-moment with no plan or agenda.

A vital step is to let go of all concepts about what you should do a retreat.  You might have ideas from things you’ve heard or read.  Maybe even from this blog.  Best to let them all go.  Even let go of thoughts about what worked for you on previous retreats.

Have the intention to simply be present and to listen to your heart moment by moment.  You may be in for some big surprises.  Perhaps you were expecting to spend hours meditating and instead you’re guided to go on a long hike.  Perhaps, if you’re staying at a retreat center, you’re drawn to the library and magically pick up just the right book to inspire you.

A retreat is a wonderful opportunity to let go of habitual behaviors and thinking patterns.  Being in a new setting helps.  Then, as you relax and slow down, you can start watching your mind more closely.  You’ll likely notice that most of the thoughts that go through your head are not worth paying attention to, much less acting on.

It’s very freeing to stop following your mind and begin to tune into the often more subtle impulses of your heart.  Your retreat is a great chance to practice this.  When you hang out in silence by yourself for a couple days or longer, you can break free of old habits and discover new, more joyful ways of being.

The more deeply you let go of everything you know, the more fully your retreat will be a whole new beginning in your life.

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