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You Reading This, Be Ready

breath

I love this poem by William Stafford. My favorite line, “Are you waiting for time to show you some better thoughts?”

A little over a month ago I shared a vulnerable bit of my traumatic background around random acts of racial violence. I declared my Moonshot: to drop the stones of resentment and experience holistic heart health and be of maximum service to God and my fellows.

Through mindfulness of the moment, addiction recovery, breath awareness, self-compassion and a whole lot of forgiveness, I don’t carry the role of victim or perpetrator; I am free. 

Today, I grant myself space for Grace, to feel the feels, and then carry on with the work of personal transformation. I may cry about the state of affairs, and then I remember my crying isn’t gonna solve anything. I get to declare another Moonshot, another something extraordinary that wouldn’t otherwise happen…

So in doing anti-racist research and study and having the difficult conversations with our two boys about the digestible chunks of world events we digest daily, we aim to be part of solution vs. part of the problem. We read, write, meditate, heart-storm, and live, together. 

The boys are growing up Caucasian, in a dominant culture that is riddled with broken social contracts, where I imagine it is hard to be male and Caucasian, just as I imagine it is hard to be female and Black…

Just as I imagine this moment in history is hard for humanity, period. 

The invitation is to take a moment to pause.

Read.

Listen. 

You Reading This, Be Ready
by William Stafford

Starting here, what do you want to remember?
How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?
What scent of old wood hovers, what softened
sound from outside fills the air?

Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?

When you turn around, starting here, lift this
new glimpse that you found; carry into evening
all that you want from this day. This interval you spent
reading or hearing this, keep it for life —

What can anyone give you greater than now,
starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?

here I am reading it aloud

https://vimeo.com/385919004


 

for a brief while we lived in Lake Oswego, Oregon where this amazing poet died. William Stafford was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, on January 17, 1914. He received a BA and an MA from the University of Kansas at Lawrence and, in 1954, a PhD from the University of Iowa. During the Second World War, Stafford was a conscientious objector and worked in the civilian public service camps—an experience he recorded in the prose memoir Down My Heart (1947). His presence on the planet has enhanced my life. His legacy inspires me. May it be so that my legacy matters. And may yours. You matter. Your relationships matter. 

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massage your vagus nerve

Aloha Dear One, 

Most of this past weekend was good. I forgot about the pandemic for at least 3 hours solid. I gardened for a half-day. I enjoyed rainbows and butterflies. And then I hit my edge, hit my window of tolerance and got a wee bit pissy that my husband made fun of me. I took it personally. Ouch.

But the good news is that my nervous system stayed calm and I didn’t flood like I have in the past. I didn’t want to vaporize him as a defensive reaction. Thankfully, I continue to work a daily program of breath-work, yoga and creativity. I contemplate my place on this planet and in this relationship with a loving, tender presence. And I want to offer a few things to help you gain this resilience and build your toolkit of repair. 

My favorite way to calm myself down and step into command central of my nervous system is to massage my vagus nerve with conscious breath-work. I’m eager to offer more about this vital tonic for well-being as we all could use a little extra tender, loving care.

If you wish to learn more, I encourage you to sign up for (another) free series below. Learn to ACTIVATE the vagus nerve to REBALANCE your nervous system and help boost your immune system and overall health! 

Many people in this modern world suffer from overstimulated nervous systems and become desensitized to chronic stress.

Over time, this can lead to low vagal tone, which has been linked to a variety of mental and physical health issues, including chronic inflammation, neuro-degeneration, poor gut function, autoimmunity and cancer.

1. sign up free here, take what you can use, leave the rest

https://vagusnerveconnectionsummit.com

2. My favorite quote from last week. From Trudy Goodman:

3. My favorite Relationships boost yoga with Adriene 

On Sunday, My beloved and I did this lovely yoga practice.

https://fwfg.com/programs/relationship-boost-yoga

4. My offering today, 5/4/20:

Power by Amy Elizabeth

May the power be with you

(for force is over-rated).

May the power of peace that passes all understanding

tenderize your heart on a daily basis.

May your love may shine forth today

as you rededicate yourself 

to your own greater well-being.

May you radiate the compassion for yourself 

while enjoying skillful means with others.

It’s really the big both/and.

May your sense of knowing grow.

For when you release the grip

you receive the gift of tenderness;

when you release the pinch

you feel the flow of love,

when you release the negative self-talk

you love the company you keep with yourself.

Enlightened self-interest results in a (w)holy authentic you.

Solitude becomes a rich replenishment. 

Energetic exchange becomes a soothing ebb and flow.

May it be so.

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Chillax & Relax

chillax

My poetic words today, 4/20/20:

when I wait for the world to be just so

in order to take a nice deep breath

I generate my own suffering.

when I wait for my husband to do the next inspiring action

in order to take a confident step forward in my passions

I am generating my own suffering.

when I expect others to behave just so

I hold them up to such a high bar that invariably,

I generate suffering for them, as well.

when I release the stones of resentment from my heart

my presence automatically gives us all permission 

to breathe sweetly.

when I tend to the wisdom of my heart

my relationships thrive

even in the midst of pandemic & pandemonium.

when I cut myself some slack

my perfectionistic sensitivities chillax

and I no longer bristle when I hear the word, “relax”

May it be so.

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Suddenly, we’re told to rest

energy

“Suddenly, self-care doesn’t seem like an indulgence — it’s absolutely essential.”

This is a line from a recent New York Times article espousing the benefits of sleep, hydration, stress management, etc. I say YES! to radical self-care as a daily practice toward everyday enlightenment. The world out there is in crisis, you don’t have to be. Step into command central of your nervous system to change in here to ignite out there. 

Let’s view this pandemic for what it is:

  • We are all interconnected. This is a global pandemic. Realize that just one person standing in unconditional love is 300,000 times more powerful than one contracted in fear. Be the one to choose love. 
  • We need to put the oxygen mask on first, everyday. Remember it is our responsibility to practice radical self-care in order to truly love and care for others. 
  • When we pause and limit travel perhaps the earth takes a heavy sigh of relief. Less toxic waste. Reimagine your reality: this is a positive reframe for all the canceled events. 

Watch this quick 3 min video: Radical Self-Care and the Serenity Prayer

Be loving and kind to yourself. If you’re home, please rest, recharge, and take good care. Remember: We are not alone. Social distancing can exacerbate feelings of aloneness.

Be responsible for the energy you bring into each and every situation. The world needs you as a social pioneer. Find leadership in your being-ness and be a role model for your family, your community, your world.

Let me help you tap into your true calling, your true nature, so that you can enjoy the life of your dreams and the best relationships possible. 

We’re waiting for you to join the Moonshot Magic Movement:

Moonshot is that declaration of doing something extraordinary that wouldn’t otherwise happen. Magic is the sweet surrender to support and success and the trust that your way of being matters most.

  • The problem is we contract in fear and isolate.
  • The solution is connection, accountability and inspiration.
  • The result is everyday enlightenment and success based on your own chosen standards. 

As the Buddha said, “If we are loving and kind to ourselves, we cannot harm another human being.” 

My best quality of love,

Amy Elizabeth

ps: Don’t forget to sign up for this incredible resources, accountability, and connection with the Moonshot Magic Movement! The founding member price of $33/month is available for a limited time. hit reply now and let me know you’re in. we launch on the new moon 3/24 and we can start sooner than that if you ask. I LOVE it when people ask for what they need and want. I’m here for you. Just ask. 

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acts of fear = acts of violence

acts of fear

What do you do when a wave of fear washes over you?

How do you respond to the tsunami of life that crashes down sometimes? 

I take myself to the beach.
This act of loving kindness toward self
is a commitment.

A stretchy goal.
Five days in a row,
no matter what


You see, coming up this Friday I’ve got surgery

I’m dancing with my fear. 

I’m reclaiming my power. 

for when I’m scared, 
I tend to contract.
I push back.

I get angry.  

Instead of isolating, I 
Gotta get out of the house.

Instead of contracting,

I’m releasing the pinch.

And sharing my strengths here with you, because perhaps you feel the feelings of life intensely. 

and that’s okay

what if? 

Instead of holding it all together…

You allow yourself to Weep. Tears. Ample tears. Lotsa snot…

and instead of playing the look-good game…

you could honestly share your feelings with a trusted friend…

The invitation:

Release. Let go.

Feel the fear. Release the pinch. 

Turn towards others instead of curling up in fetal position. 

Trust yourself to not abandon yourself.

Focus on your part in the nightmare around you.

Do what you can to center yourself.

Repair your relationships.

Then do what you can to serve others.

Repeat. Have Faith that this is enough.

You are enough. 

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Grounded in Grief

grief

Aloha 

Moonshot Monday: get grounded in grief and gratitude

Here’s the big Moonshot declaration for this week: You can stop manufacturing your own misery. Period.

The Magic is that we can counter the overwhelm of life by allowing space for grace to enter our hearts and time to unwind our minds. No matter what. We can get grounded in our grief and gratitude. 

Click to watch the 13:20 PIP Clip video now. 

My words are more of a poetic list today. Feel my heart. Take what you can use. Leave the rest. Share with others. 

Finding ground in grief and gratitude:

feel the higher power

of gravity.

allow space for grace

to enter your heart.

take time to unwind

and calm your mind.

allow yourself to simply be.

you are enough.

find power in partnership 

together we heal

we tend to the space between 

together, we metabolize the unprocessed grief 

we clear the fear

we feel it to heal it. 

May it be so

You matter. Your relationships matter.   

Comment below and let me know what unprocessed grief you are facing today? the loss of your pet? the dissolution of a relationship? the loss of your eyesight? the loss of your playful, youthful spirit? Name it to reclaim it and metabolize the hurt, let go of the loss and hold on to the gratitude.