I meditated with Oprah & Deepak’s 21-day meditation before I started writing today. Sometimes, I listen to the meditation while lying in bed, because I feel too tired to sit. This morning, I sat in my chair at my desk in easy pose and enjoyed the experience. So many thoughts pass through my mind and sometimes I know where they come from within me, but other times thoughts or “visions” will surprise me. Today, I saw the image of an apple and the action of biting into that apple with great excitement and pleasure. It brought in thoughts about Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden. I never really know what I thought about that story, because I've witnessed too many discussions that resulted in personal and spiritual harm. Today, I let my mind go in that direction.
What can I learn from that story right now, I wondered?
bite into curiosity
I M A G I N E
one bite changed an entire creation
I M A G I N E
one human's impact on an entire collective
I am reminded of why I choose to not share my thoughts in writing beyond a select few most of the time. It can be worrisome to know that I cannot control what others will choose to learn and take with them. My preference is to avoid instigating the creation of negative thoughts and energy in the collective awareness as a result of something I am sharing. When I get quiet, I hear and see the truths about what destruction, excess and support really look like in my thoughts, intentions and choices. This is a form of mindfulness that I have been practicing, because I am aware that I have choice and that my visual, verbal and energetic contributions have impact. Intention matters. My intention is for my choices to align with expression that connects and uplifts.
What I can learn from that story right now is to write with curiosity “bite by bite,” because this allows the practice to become less serious and more interesting. Curiosity is the key that opens the door to imagination. Imagination is the space where so many of us go to get away from the forms and constructs that bind us, so that we may dream, ideate, and create as seriously and/or playfully as we feel. It doesn’t matter if what I’m taking away isn't what the creator intended when I've found clarity and learned more about myself. Learning more about myself is helping me see how I can have a positive impact on creation and the collective. And, now I see, it's my turn to let what is, be.
What are you learning today?
All the love and no excuses,
Laura
@blueprintwellness.life
My friend, Kate, is on day 92 of her 100 day challenge and it's been really fun to see a new monster each day. I have a daily kundalini meditation practice and am on day 67 of my lifetime. I don’t intend to stop, but I’m not ready to stop counting because it keeps the flow of my practice going. We recently talked about how having a daily practice transforms and fortifies who we are and how we approach life and work. For me, this kind of practice is the embodiment of what I call #alltheloveandnoexcuses, my own hashtag, mantra, approach, or life principle that connects me to power, grace and honor for myself and others.
I am inspired by Kate’s monster work and #100daychallenge, so I’m taking her up on the suggestion to do my own 100 day challenge to:
Stop rebelling against my writing goals
Get myself to write everyday
Share my writing with others
Accept myself as a writer
Be a better writer
Lighten up and have fun
Follow @kate.jjj on instagram, she's the real deal and is making art constantly!
Follow @blueprintwellness.life to see my #writing #alltheloveandnoexcuses #100daychallenge unfold.
Brightly,
Laura
I am not your or anyone else’s “healer.”
It is important to make this distinction at this time when complementary and alternative health care approaches are gaining global interest and acceptance. There are many helpful modalities and practitioners to explore, and what works for one person may not have the same benefit for another. What works for you at one time, may not have the same benefit for you at other times. As words on a page or thoughts in the mind, this seems both logical and reasonable, but in day-to-day life it feels frustrating and disappointing for a person who is not well and in need of relief.
I’m not certain if this is true for everyone, but it seems like a majority of people are of the mindset that healing is a process. From there, healing seems to be somewhat of a broad term to me. It is within the dimensions of the concept or of a specific person, where the complexities of the concept of healing emerge. A person who is terminal may have a healing experience that does not prevent them from dying of disease. A person who is physically injured may have wounds that fully heal, yet they do not feel an improvement in their sense of health and well-being. A sense of healing seems to be needed physically and energetically in order for a person to feel and be well again.
But, what happens next? Matters of health are often costly in terms of time, money, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual demand, so it comes back to individual beliefs and choice. Usually, once a person feels better they go back to their life until their health and wellness is suffering again. Sometimes a person will value their renewed sense of well-being so much that they begin to change their life. Here, I am speaking from my own past experiences as well as a witness to others’. Either way, it is likely we can all see the difference between choosing the mindset to be healed versus "activating the creative process of well-being."
A point that is clearly emerging is that the concept of healing greatly benefits from a shift or expansion of the concept to include this dynamic idea of activating the creative process of well-being. It is my experience in my own life and as a witness for others, that it is absolutely necessary for a person to be an active participant and guide for fueling and improving their sense of healing, health and well-being. The goal of energy work, from the Blueprint Wellness point of view, is for you to experience an increased sense of well-being as defined or perceived by you. This makes sense because people do have different definitions and expectations for their own health and well-being, regardless of whether or not they align with the metrics or definitions of any health institution or authority.
While healing does seem to occur in a more passive state there is always active participation needed in order to open up to that passive state. A person must feel open to the practitioner and give permission to do the work, whether it is a Western, Eastern or other complementary approach. Perhaps the reason this point is arising, is to remind us that we are always in charge and an active participant in matters of our health and well-being.
This is why I do not feel it would be true for me to call myself anyone’s “healer,” and why I am not interested in this kind of relationship with my clients. This is something that feels important to discuss and explain upfront, because it is a potential shift in the mind and belief system involving each of our expectations about the experience and the benefit(s). Allowing or encouraging anyone to imagine that I am healing them or that I have special abilities is a distraction from their process and ability to trust their own experience.
There is little to no lasting benefit in a linear, one-directional type of relationship or expectations for clients or practitioners. This is currently a primary concern with the approach of Western medicine and subsequently why complementary and alternative health care is on the incline. The important point here, is that there are goals and responsibilities that the practitioner and client ought to discuss about the approach and expectations prior to working together.
What are you noticing about your own beliefs or ideas about healing, health and well-being?
What kind of approach do you imagine for yourself and your practitioner?
What kind of expectations or beliefs limit or support you?
What are you choosing when you are not in crisis?
Would it feel different to take the approach of activating your creative process of well-being rather than focusing on healing?
How would you feel about your current sense or state of well-being? Physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually?
The goal is to tap into curiosity and creativity around the thoughts and actions a person knows they must choose in order to create their own sense of healing, health and well-being. This supports a person to be a creator rather than a receiver of healing, health and well-being. It also shifts the experience away from crisis and into growth and enjoyment.
This all feels clear, true and real for me at this time, but as always, is subject to revision or expansion with new information and experience. The intent of this blog post is to share an internal conversation that feels worthy of sharing with you for feedback or for you to explore on your own.
Please feel free to share your thoughts or questions with the Blueprint Wellness community.
Brightly,
Laura Peppin
