Setting Intentions for the New Year

Setting Intentions for the New Year

  • Self as a Gateway to Us All
    • Self-care is the essence of mindfulness.
    • Deep listening is the core of mindfulness.
    • Attention is the most subtle form of love.
    • Numbing emotions numbs our aliveness.  Our emotions carry medicine.
    • Our greatest strength is our vulnerability and sensitivity - that which connects us.
    • The Myth of Separation
      • Illusion of separate self keeps us suffering (mind of separation)
        • Separates us from actual experience of life
        • Separates us from others
        • Separates us from natural world
        • Mind of separation keeps us apart
      • Truth of universal self connects us (mind of interconnection)
      • True meditation/mindfulness begins when the motivation of self-improvement ends.
        • Binding to separate self = limiting!
        • "self-improvement delusion" brings us further away from our true essence.
      • Fear (inc. judgment, anxiety) = driving force of mind of separation.
      • Love = driving force and product of mind of connection.
    • Meditation: giving ourselves the gift of our full care, presence with our human experience.  Meditation is the practice of love.
    • Show up with love to every weather condition in the landscape of your body and mind.
    • Be your own loving mentor.
    • "How we do anything is how we do everything."
  • Practices
    • Accomplishments + Victories and Disappointments + Losses Lists
      • At the end of a year (or at a transition point), write down lists of the past year's accomplishments and victories/disappointments and losses.  Notice patterns, commonalities.  Latter list = pulling weeds from the garden to create new growth.
    • Limiting Stories
      • Identify your "limiting story" for the past year.
      • Identify your current "deepest heart's desire."
      • Ask:
        • What can I accomplish when I leave my limiting story behind?
        • Where will I put my energy - toward my limiting stories or to my deepest heart's desires?
      • Create an antidote for your limiting stories, a declaration.  "I choose" statements and "I give myself permission" statements can be helpful.
        • ex: My limiting story: "I am not good enough."  My deepest heart's desire: "teach love."  My declaration: "I choose compassionate connection."
    • Goals and Guidelines
      • Set goals for yourself for the next year.  (Goals: aspirations, hopes)
        • ex: "I want to deepen my practice.  I want to embrace unity.  I want to travel and deepen my spirituality.  I want to love myself with compassion."
      • Set guidelines for yourself for the next year.  (Guidelines: how you live your life)
        • ex: "Choose balance and stability.  Love the self unconditionally.  Say yes to unknowns; venture out of comfort zone.  Choose passion over comfort.  Savor connection."
      • Set a focus for yourself for the next year.  (Focus: anchor)
        • ex: compassion

Notes from MARC Day of Mindfulness: "Setting Intentions for the New Year," led by Deborah Eden Tull, January 13, 2018.

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