Good Morning Friends!
Today I’d like to clarify what conscious living is all about and provide a few examples of how we can all incorporate this philosophy into our daily lives.
Michael and Bianca Alexander over at Conscious Living TV have the best definition of conscious living I have come across which states:
Conscious Living means taking responsibility for our experiences and living with awareness to make choices that sustain ourselves, our communities and the planet. While meditating and practicing yoga will get you headed in the right direction, Conscious Living is also about how you shop, eat and live.
In short, conscious living involves doing what is right not only for our own benefit but for that of the world as a whole. It involves actively seeking solutions that will bring us in harmony with the world around us and doing what we can to teach others how to live this way as well.
Living Consciously
As the quote mentions above, it is fine to take up meditation or yoga as a means of getting in tune with yourself and nature but there is so much more to it than that. To live consciously requires changing our perceptions and practices on all levels of being – spiritually, mentally/emotionally, physically and financially – so that we maintain a “do no harm” attitude in everything we do. Here are a few examples of how you can incorporate conscious living into daily life:
- Reduce, Reuse & Recycle: Reduce the number of plastic water bottles in landfills by purchasing a reusable bottle instead. Cut sheets of documents that are no longer needed (You only print when necessary , right?) and use them as makeshift scratchpads. Finally, if you have outdated electronics lying around your home donate them or recycle them instead of tossing them in the trash.
- Purchase Eco-friendly Fashions: Find alternatives to clothing that hurt our fragile planet. Environmentally safe clothing made from sustainable materials such as bamboo and organic cotton is just as fashionable and you can feel better about your purchase knowing you are doing your part to protect the earth!
- Shut It Down, Shut It Off: Keeping electronics plugged in or turned on when not in use wastes electricity so unplug items such as laptop adapters and cell phone chargers when not in use. Additionally, disconnect appliances such as irons and toasters while not in use. Even though they are not being used they are still using power.
These are just a few simple steps that can used to leave a cleaner healthier planet for generations that follow. Many others can be found on sites like Conscious Living TV. Check them out and tell Michael and Bianca I said hello!
Today’s Meditate on This affirmation: I do all I can to live in harmony with the planet and its inhabitants.
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael Stagg
Who Do YOU Love?
Good Morning Friends!
Have you ever found yourself in a relationship (or two, or 10) where you know you were being abused – on any level – or perhaps taken advantage of in some way? I found myself in just that situation during what I call my “learn it” years. This was a little over 13 years ago before I met my wife.
I was in a relationship with a woman who I allowed to mistreat me as well as cause me unimaginable mental anguish. Why? Because I refused to love myself more than the thought of her loving me. That is, I wanted to believe so badly that she loved me as much as I did her that I ignored what she was doing to me. I was more into her happiness than my own.
I think many of us are like that. We forsake our own happiness to please everyone, be it our spouse, our kids or our job. What happened in my case was I started hanging around more positive people and from observation (and the occasional lecture from friends) I learned to love me without hating someone else. In fact, before I let go of that relationship I thanked her for the experiences I had with her. In further retrospect it was through the pain she caused that I was able to help a friend – the woman who would eventually become Mrs. Stagg – let go of her own destructive relationships.
I offer this insight to everyone I meet that needs it: when it becomes evident that you are not that into you it is at that point that you need to step back and ask yourself why you are placing a higher value on the happiness of others at the expense of your own. As Buddha said, “You yourself, a much as anybody in the universe, deserve you love and affection”.
So, what’s it going to be? Will you continue to forfeit your own happiness or will you endeavor to follow a path that focuses on cultivating your own happiness while doing what you can to help others find their own? Think about it and while you are pondering that question here is today’s Meditate on This affirmation:
I will no longer allow others to compromise my happiness.
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael Stagg
Text YELE to 501501 to donate $5 to Haiti Relief Efforts
Greetings Friends,
I’ve been searching for a way that I can support Haiti in its time of need and thanks to blog buddies Kelly Diels and Danielle LaPorte I have found my way to donate.
For the next 30 days 75% of all proceeds from my writing efforts will be donated to Yéle Haiti, a grassroots organization created in 2005 by Wyclef Jean dedicated to the betterment of the nation. I ask that everyone that can please donate to Yéle Haiti here or send text YELE to 501501 and a donation of $5 will be made for Haiti relief.
Meditate on This: I look beyond my own trivial needs to help others less fortunate.
Today is the PERFECT day to give … open your heart and share what you can anyway you can.
Michael Stagg
Transcending the "Get Money" Mentality
- I stopped being stressed out about how much money I had and/or when I was getting more.
- It was no longer important to me to have the latest gadget of the moment (I’m a tech head)
- I started giving more and as a result I received more.
- I attract all that my heart desires and receive it in Divine time.
- I give freely knowing that The Universe will bring it back to me tenfold.
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael Stagg
“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” – Albert Einstein
As some of you may know, either from reading this blog or from knowing me personally, my family and I were homeless for about three years. In that time we learned a lot about allowing ourselves to accept the kindness of others but more importantly how necessary it is to give of ourselves.
Even in a state of homelessness we were able to buy a cup of coffee or a sandwich for those less fortunate than us. When we could not afford to buy it for them we shared what we had with them. Today as I was checking my Twitter account I came across this post at Surrender40 asking for a donation so that they can purchase blankets to distribute to the homeless for Christmas. I won’t deny that this post made me tear up as I thought of the days of our own homelessness and though we were not on the street some of the places we stayed didn’t have blankets to offer us and so we slept as close as we could to one another to keep warm during the winter months.
If you are able I ask that you visit their page here and donate as much as you can. You will feel great about the contribution and will be providing the comfort of warmth for someone less fortunate.
Meditate on This: “I give of myself knowing the Universe will reciprocate it back to me tenfold.”
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael Stagg
Meaningful Meditation for Rest and Relaxation
Image: MRO.org
I’ve been a serious practitioner of Buddhism for about three years now and a fundamental part of practice is meditation. Meditation can be defined as focusing the mind for the purpose of attaining higher spiritual awareness. This does not mean that you “space out” but requires sincere attention on the object of meditation (the breath, a sound our repetition of a word or phrase called a mantra are typical objects of concentration).
More than just a way of connecting with higher levels of the self, meditation is an effective tool for promoting a sense of relaxation for the body; it can be used to “recharge” after a long day of work for example.
ON SITTING:
The most important aspect of meditation – besides the technique itself – is posture. Below is a link to several recommended positions to use during your practice. If any of the positions prove to be too uncomfortable use the chair position.
http://www.mro.org/zmm/teachings/meditation.php
You can also download a PDF version here: http://www.mro.org/zmm/teachings/zazeninst.pdf
ON PRACTICING:
For most meditation practices you will want to find a quiet place free of external distractions. Select one of the seated positions mentioned in the link above ensuring that your posture is as erect as possible (if you find it difficult to do even the seated position you may lay on the floor – it’s suggested that you do not practice while lying in bed).
The easiest way to relax is to concentrate on the breath. Breathe in deeply through your nose and into your lower abdomen extending it like a bellows. As you do this, mentally say the word Peace. Exhale fully allowing all the air to leave your abdomen out through your nose; again, mentally say the word Peace as you exhale. Doing this for about 5 – 10 minutes will allow you to begin feeling more relaxed and able to handle stressful situations more calmly. Another “byproduct” of meditation is increased energy. The energy that was once used to maintain your level of stress will be repurposed to other areas of your body including your overall energy level!
With continued practice you will begin noticing all sorts of additional perks while meditating. For more on the subject I recommend reading Moon Over Water by Jessica MacBeth. It’s an excellent book with many examples of simple to use meditation techniques. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER:
The meditation information in this article is offered primarily for reference and personal enrichment. It is NOT intended to be a substitute for the advice of a licensed health-care practitioner. Since the actual use of meditative techniques is beyond the author’s control, NO expressed or implied guarantee as to their effects can be given, nor liability taken.
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael
MIIS
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
Greetings Readers!
I, like many others yesterday, watched the touching memorial for Michael Jackson as it was streamed live on CNN.com. For the most part it was a wonderful experience filled with great memories and tribute to the King of Pop.
Unfortunately, during the stream there were some people that decided to take cheap shots at Michael and I found myself getting very angry at the thought of people being so unkind. I mean, if you don’t like Michael Jackson why log in and watch, right?
So I’m sitting there getting mad at people I don’t know for typing things that may or not be true about MJ and suddenly I begin to experience a humdinger of a headache. Then it hits me – well two things do – 1. I’m wasting my energy disliking these people and 2. This is a perfect opportunity to practice forgiveness.
When you extend the energy of forgiveness to others it frees that energy for more valuable purposes (like manifesting a better relationship, a success business venture, you get the idea). More importantly, there’s a certain healing quality to forgiveness that I can’t explain. Incidentally, once I changed my anger energy to that of forgiveness my headache ceased!
We could all use a little forgiveness in our lives just as we would all do well to extend forgiveness to others. Here’s a simple four step plan to invoke forgiveness*:
- Forgive the other person for causing you the feeling.
- Give the other person permission to forgive you for having the feeling.
- Forgive yourself for any harm that has come from that feeling.
- Wish the person well.
Just remember to begin with the most important person that deserves your forgiveness – YOU!
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael
My II Sense
*4 Steps to Forgiveness courtesy of the Carla Kay White blog
Image © Robyn A. Harton/http://www.robyna.com
Question: If we all possess the Divine Spark of God which knows only abundance (health, wealthy, fulfillment) why is it that we so readily attract the energy of scarcity into our lives (illness, poverty, hunger)? Anytime we feel low on energy, sick, down on our luck or depressed we only need to affirm “I’m a child of divine birthright and let go of all thoughts of scarcity in my and claim abundance as my inheritance!”
By Divine birthright we have access to this same energy of abundance and only need to acknowledge it and make it our own. Let go of you ideas of scarcity and begin living in the light of abundance and watch as your situation changes almost instantaneously!
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael
My II Sense
Be Not a Victim of Circumstance
Greetings Readers!
Today, I’m inspired by the words of legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. I was lying in bed doing something I don’t usually do: worrying about working, finances – you know the drill. I decided take my mind off things with some reading when I came across a familiar quote of Bruce’s: “To hell with circumstances, I CREATE opportunities”.
Sometimes we get so caught up in our own sorrow and self pity it stagnates our creativity and ability to solve what appear to be impossible situations. The energy of the Universe revolves around abundance not scarcity. If we continuously dwell on what we don’t have or what we can’t get the Universe can only give us what we’re requesting – MORE SCARCITY!
Regardless of our situation we must endeavor to focus on what we do have and cling to an inner knowing that everything else will make its way to you in DIVINE time. That doesn’t mean that you say to yourself “I will get a job” and then not actively look for one. Remember “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.” James 2:26. We must ACTIVELY participate in our own destiny!
Don’t be a victim of circumstance. Take control of your destiny and become the person you know you can be. I leave you with another quote from Bruce: “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael
My II Sense
Coping with Adversity
“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.” – Arthur Golden
Greetings Readers!
Before I begin, I would like to apologize for the delay in posts (and wish all the dads out there a Happy Belated Father’s Day!). I purchased a domain name for the blog and foolishly tried to make the changes myself that would allow the MyIISense.com to point to the Blogger account. Needless to say, I had to contact support; everything should be A-OK in 2 days!
Now – On to the topic at hand…
Dealing with adversity is a very touchy subject for most people. It involves coming to terms with a particular situation or set of circumstances and, hopefully finding a solution. I recall reading something from Wayne Dyer’s book The Power of Intention that applies here: Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.
As stated in the opening quote, adversity can be seen as transformative wind that blows away the things that we may be clinging to and leaves us with what we need to endure and overcome our “troubles”. Likewise it can be viewed as the fire that consumes our average everyday notions of what should be and forces us to be more creative in handling our “problems” to find a LASTING solution.
If we change the way we perceive what’s going on in our lives from a negative view and instead envision the opportunity in what is going on around us I would bet my last dollar that the outcome of our situations would be much more positive. What are your thoughts? How do you deal with adversity? Comment and let us know!
Have a PERFECT day!
Michael
My II Sense
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