Tag: meditation

Consume

~ thepocketphilosopher37 ~ Leave a comment

There are four kinds of food that we consume every day. They are: edible food (what we put into our mouths to nourish our bodies), sensory food (what we smell, hear, taste, feel and touch), volition (the motivation and intention that fuels us) and consciousness (this includes our individual consciousness, the collective consciousness, and our environment.)

-Thich Nhat Hanh

What did you consume today? This week? This month? Taking control of what we consume, when we can, will lead to a happier and more focused life.

Stop and Start

~ thepocketphilosopher37 ~ Leave a comment

Start where you are. You might be the most depressed person, the most addicted person in the world, the most jealous person in the world. You might think that there are no others on the planet who hate themselves as much as you do. All of that is a good place to start. Just where you are- that’s the place to start.

– Pema Chodron, The Pocket Pema Chodron

What stops you from starting? When we stop trying to be perfect we can start moving towards our ideal selves. There is no moment aside from the now so that is the best place to start because it could be the only place.

 

 

Dig

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Dig within yourself. There lies the source of good; a source whose waters will forever well up, if you but forever dig.

-Marcus Aurelius

How do you look inward on a daily basis? Are you constantly consuming food, sights, and sounds without ever questioning if they’re good for you? To dig within is to practice the skill of inner dialogue. Talking to yourself, not out loud, or sometimes out loud, is the best way to practice introspection.

 

The Present

~ thepocketphilosopher37 ~ Leave a comment

Everywhere and at all times, it is up to you to rejoice piously at what is occurring at the present moment, to conduct yourself with justice towards the people who are present here and now…

-Marcus Aurelius

For how much of your day are you present? The present moment is a gift. This perspective alone makes for a happier life. Gratitude is a greater starting point for living than desire. Being present means appreciating the now, right now.

Plans

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There always comes a time when one must choose between contemplation and action. This is called becoming.

– Albert Camus

Are you constantly planning? Talk is cheap, ideas are cheaper and there is no reality outside of what you do. Thinking and talking should be aimed at acting and creating. Take control of the present and stop planning for the future, just get busy.

Walls

~ thepocketphilosopher37 ~ Leave a comment

We think that by protecting ourselves from suffering we are being kind to ourselves. The truth is we only become more fearful, more hardened, and more alienated.

-Pema Chodron

How is your guard up? Suffering is a natural part of life. As such, walking alongside it while cultivating an understanding is more beneficial than simply ignoring it. You cannot learn from a teacher if you close your ears and eyes. Suffering can be meaningful if we do not protect ourselves from it, but instead, see it as a teacher.

 

Green

~ thepocketphilosopher37 ~ Leave a comment

Without giving up hope- that there’s somewhere better to be, that there’s someone better to be-we will never relax with where we are and who we are.

– Pema Chodron

Do you feel that the grass is always greener on the other side? You can only become who you envision by being who you are right now.