Happy Fall Everyone!
Dark, cold, grey, wet - sounds like the beginning of a country western song where everyone including the dog is singing the blues. Yet, it bodes the question, is this the reality of the situation? Isn’t there beauty in the different subtle colors of grey, the sound that rain makes on the roof, or the comfort of a warm blanket on a cold night? We tend to believe that external factors dictate how we feel and thus behave in the world. We tell ourselves that only when this happens will I then feel or behave a particular way: we always seem to be at the mercy of outside influences. All events, situations and experiences must be taken from the context of the viewer, dependent on personal philosophy and the way we experience our authentic self, and therefore the world.
Eleanor Roosevelt once stated “One’s philosophy is not best described with words; it is expressed in the choices one makes.” Many times we are unaware of what our “personal philosophies” are. This makes it different if not impossible to match our behaviors with our authentic selves.
When we slow things down and become mindful of what our true selves are saying, we begin to remember. Many times we feel we need to eliminate thoughts, feelings, or behaviors when the real process is to include, examine, and bring consciousness to these aspects so we can make choices based on our authentic personal philosophies. I strongly encourage you to journey to the center of yourself so that you can discover, formulate, and act from that wondrous being that is you.
Wishing you peace on your journey,
Cindi
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
It's Summer!
Happy Summer!
Hope every one is enjoying our wonderful season of summer. It is important that we take time this season, no matter how brief it is in Wisconsin, to experience joy, relaxation and fun. Many times we will not allow these things in our lives since we consider them to be frivolous, less than, or not important. Learning to be, that is to say, staying in the present moment is one of the most loving acts we can give to ourselves and therefore to others.
From early on, many of us have heard and believed messages or “stories” that we are not lovable or we are unworthy. This “story” continues to be told over and over again as adults and the belief grows repeating this very inaccurate message. Here is the good news. This “story” does not have to end here.
One of the most remarkable gifts we possess is that of free will. We can change this message at anytime. We can, through awareness, transform literally ourselves and our lives. Once we begin to believe we are worthy, we begin to recognize our non-loving actions and start the new practice of loving behaviors. The simplest acts, like breathing, eating right, getting enough sleep, and finding joy in the small things can and are life altering. When we act lovingly towards ourselves we begin retelling the “story”, this time more accurately and with the more desirable consequences of health, happiness, and peace. Begin this “story” now, for now is all we really have.
Wishing you peace on your journey,
Cindi
Hope every one is enjoying our wonderful season of summer. It is important that we take time this season, no matter how brief it is in Wisconsin, to experience joy, relaxation and fun. Many times we will not allow these things in our lives since we consider them to be frivolous, less than, or not important. Learning to be, that is to say, staying in the present moment is one of the most loving acts we can give to ourselves and therefore to others.
From early on, many of us have heard and believed messages or “stories” that we are not lovable or we are unworthy. This “story” continues to be told over and over again as adults and the belief grows repeating this very inaccurate message. Here is the good news. This “story” does not have to end here.
One of the most remarkable gifts we possess is that of free will. We can change this message at anytime. We can, through awareness, transform literally ourselves and our lives. Once we begin to believe we are worthy, we begin to recognize our non-loving actions and start the new practice of loving behaviors. The simplest acts, like breathing, eating right, getting enough sleep, and finding joy in the small things can and are life altering. When we act lovingly towards ourselves we begin retelling the “story”, this time more accurately and with the more desirable consequences of health, happiness, and peace. Begin this “story” now, for now is all we really have.
Wishing you peace on your journey,
Cindi
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Run the Experiment
Happy May!
As spring continues to progress and more life springs forth from the earth, the topic of flexability and inflexability comes to mind. Things change. In fact, everything, including ourselves, are in constant states of fluctuation. This is just how it is; so why then do we expend so much energy creating such elaborate systems to avoid deny, reduce, and minimize these changes? FEAR. Now I know you might be saying, I am not afraid of anything. But I challenge you to slow down just a bit and see if this hypothesis holds any evidence to support it. Fear, in its authentic state, is designed to help us pay attention. It shouts, "Hey, something is wrong or dangerous, something important is happening, something new is occurring". Fear provides us with a learning experience, a chance to become conscious so we can make connected, authentic, decisions.
The phrase, "the devil is in the details", reminds us that if we don't slow down, pay attention, or become conscious, we may miss vital details which could change or influence an outcome or situation dramatically. Fear is not the problem, inflexibility and the resistance to discovering the root of the fear is the issue. This resistence to fear in its many manifestations, can cause all sorts of issues in one's life. Our job is to go with the resistance, use it as a North Star, a point in which to explore our consciousness and discover the connectedness to our authentic self. Resistance is futile (Star Trek fans know this one!), it leads to disconnection, disease, and separation from our authentic selves. Trust and courage are the mantras for resistence.
Remember Therapy 101 - who is the only person we can change? That's right, it's ourselves! The more we practice going with resistance, the more we begin to trust the process of growth and change, the more we reduce the levels of fear because we have addressed its root, the better we feel! Which, if we honestly look at our intention, was the purpose for our old system of resistance in the first place. Run the experiement for yourself.
Wishing you peace, Cindi
As spring continues to progress and more life springs forth from the earth, the topic of flexability and inflexability comes to mind. Things change. In fact, everything, including ourselves, are in constant states of fluctuation. This is just how it is; so why then do we expend so much energy creating such elaborate systems to avoid deny, reduce, and minimize these changes? FEAR. Now I know you might be saying, I am not afraid of anything. But I challenge you to slow down just a bit and see if this hypothesis holds any evidence to support it. Fear, in its authentic state, is designed to help us pay attention. It shouts, "Hey, something is wrong or dangerous, something important is happening, something new is occurring". Fear provides us with a learning experience, a chance to become conscious so we can make connected, authentic, decisions.
The phrase, "the devil is in the details", reminds us that if we don't slow down, pay attention, or become conscious, we may miss vital details which could change or influence an outcome or situation dramatically. Fear is not the problem, inflexibility and the resistance to discovering the root of the fear is the issue. This resistence to fear in its many manifestations, can cause all sorts of issues in one's life. Our job is to go with the resistance, use it as a North Star, a point in which to explore our consciousness and discover the connectedness to our authentic self. Resistance is futile (Star Trek fans know this one!), it leads to disconnection, disease, and separation from our authentic selves. Trust and courage are the mantras for resistence.
Remember Therapy 101 - who is the only person we can change? That's right, it's ourselves! The more we practice going with resistance, the more we begin to trust the process of growth and change, the more we reduce the levels of fear because we have addressed its root, the better we feel! Which, if we honestly look at our intention, was the purpose for our old system of resistance in the first place. Run the experiement for yourself.
Wishing you peace, Cindi
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Gifts of Spring
Happy Spring!
As we await the coming of warm weather, we are reminded of the message this season brings to us. Patience, change is already happening. It is all too easy to get caught in the negativity of what isn't happening, i.e. it's not warm enough, it's not light enough, it's never going to change. Yet the coming of spring reminds us of the folly of this negative thinking. The fact is things are changing!
The brave crocus are not only poking up but are flowering. The tulips and daffodils are courageously pusing their way towards the light. The gold finches are sprouting bright yellow coats in hopes of attracting a mate. All of this and more is happening and the challenge is too remain open to the wonderous, albeit slow process of change. Humans are no different. Small but significant changes are constantly occuring within ourselves. The challenge is to remain open and non-judgemental of these experiences. Marcel Proust said, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes to see."
The call of spring is to shift our view and slowdown enough to observe all of the powerful and profound events that are occuring daily and make no judgements. Take a walk through your garden or local park and find the inspiration displayed at your feet. The evidence is all around, all we have to do is look.
Wishing you light on your path,
Cindi
As we await the coming of warm weather, we are reminded of the message this season brings to us. Patience, change is already happening. It is all too easy to get caught in the negativity of what isn't happening, i.e. it's not warm enough, it's not light enough, it's never going to change. Yet the coming of spring reminds us of the folly of this negative thinking. The fact is things are changing!
The brave crocus are not only poking up but are flowering. The tulips and daffodils are courageously pusing their way towards the light. The gold finches are sprouting bright yellow coats in hopes of attracting a mate. All of this and more is happening and the challenge is too remain open to the wonderous, albeit slow process of change. Humans are no different. Small but significant changes are constantly occuring within ourselves. The challenge is to remain open and non-judgemental of these experiences. Marcel Proust said, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes to see."
The call of spring is to shift our view and slowdown enough to observe all of the powerful and profound events that are occuring daily and make no judgements. Take a walk through your garden or local park and find the inspiration displayed at your feet. The evidence is all around, all we have to do is look.
Wishing you light on your path,
Cindi
Friday, February 13, 2009
Courage of Heart
2/13/09
Hello,
Has anyone else noticed that the light is changing? Yes, it's true. At 5:00pm, (even if it is overcast), it's still light outside and the really, really, good news is that its getting lighter every day! Even in the heart of winter, the light keeps on shinning through, illuminating our way, changing the darkness to light. This is the challenge in our every day lives. How do we move light into the dark places of ourselves? This processs is long and arduous. It calls us to transcend our fear and take the deep plunge into the unknown, into ourselves, into the light.
This journey is not for the faint of heart. It takes tremendous courage. The word courage comes from the french word "coeur" meaning heart. Therefore, we must engage with our hearts, lead with our hearts , reconnect with our hearts, to begin and continue this journey home to ourselves. The good news is we do not have to do this alone. Having a guide can help to navigate these dark spaces and shed some light where needed. As we celebrate Valetines Day, the day of love, the day of the heart, let us not forget that courage, a true source of light, is within ourselves, all we have to do is breathe and lovingly listen to the wisdom.
Wishing you light on your path,
Cindi
Hello,
Has anyone else noticed that the light is changing? Yes, it's true. At 5:00pm, (even if it is overcast), it's still light outside and the really, really, good news is that its getting lighter every day! Even in the heart of winter, the light keeps on shinning through, illuminating our way, changing the darkness to light. This is the challenge in our every day lives. How do we move light into the dark places of ourselves? This processs is long and arduous. It calls us to transcend our fear and take the deep plunge into the unknown, into ourselves, into the light.
This journey is not for the faint of heart. It takes tremendous courage. The word courage comes from the french word "coeur" meaning heart. Therefore, we must engage with our hearts, lead with our hearts , reconnect with our hearts, to begin and continue this journey home to ourselves. The good news is we do not have to do this alone. Having a guide can help to navigate these dark spaces and shed some light where needed. As we celebrate Valetines Day, the day of love, the day of the heart, let us not forget that courage, a true source of light, is within ourselves, all we have to do is breathe and lovingly listen to the wisdom.
Wishing you light on your path,
Cindi
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Leaf upon the River
Hello and welcome to the Encompass website,
As the New Year progresses and we move into the heart of winter, there seems to be a lot of negativity which permeates every corner of our lives. It is very easy to be swept up in the negative currents, feeling helpless like a leaf upon the river. And yet if we stay in our stillness and do not put a judgment our experience, we start to see, sometimes slowly at first, that the negative experience is really something quite different. In its full form, negativity is simply a transitory state, a single scene from a long movie, which if stopped, would give the viewer a very different impression than if it was allowed to continue playing out its full intended message. “Everything happens for a reason” is a very challenging credo to live by. Many times we are tempted to interpret incidents as “bad” instead of seeing the opening for growth, the opportunity for change.
What comes to mind is a caterpillar in the mists of transformation. What if you were to say to this caterpillar, “hey, don’t worry, about what’s happening, because you are about to turn into a beautiful butterfly”! How many caterpillars would say, “yah right, are you blind! I am this fat, wormlike, leaf eating machine.” He might continue by saying, “you have no idea how painful this is, or that is easier said than done, or it’s too hard, why me, and isn’t there any easier way?” Do these sound familiar? We have all felt like this in times of transformation. Our job is to not confuse pain with negativity, hopelessness, or despair. Staying clear is no small feat and many times help is required to achieve this outcome. But achieve we must for it is our true path to ourselves, this transformative process, this path of challenge, this path of pain.
In these times of economic downturns, high crime rates, and other stories of gloom and doom, it is imperative that we not become distracted, not be tempted by negativity, for it will call our name. Our work is to say I hear you and I will not listen to you; I choose the path to me. Remember, nature shows us that after destructive floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions occur, not only does life return, it returns stronger, more resilient, more alive! As a part of this earth, we are no different. If hard times are what you are currently experiencing, seize the moment to change, learn, and grow, and think of our friend the caterpillar and how it turned out for him/her.
Wishing you light on your path,
Cindi
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Welcome to the Encompass Wellness Blog
Hello and welcome to the Encompass Wellness Blog!
We're excited to be up and running in cyberspace. Look for updates soon and please visit www.encompasswellness.com for more information.
Thanks.
We're excited to be up and running in cyberspace. Look for updates soon and please visit www.encompasswellness.com for more information.
Thanks.
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