Chopra Center 21-Day Meditation Challenge | Day 7 | Tapping into Happiness

Random things that make me happy:

cozy rainy days in a cafe or Ramen house with my best friend
(did that today)

We went to a yummy Ramen house
in the Silicon Valley

a nice latte and pumpkin spice muffin with my partner
(did that yesterday)

I need to watch my sugar intake,
so I shared the muffin and had
a plain latte. This pic is from
a while back. :)

visiting a spiritual place

This is part of a really neat
spiritual bookstore and meditation center.

using the new vegan soap I discovered at Trader             Joe's(oatmeal and honey - pure sensory bliss!)

I cannot even tell you how delicious
this smells and what a mood elevator
experience it was to use this
in the shower this evening!

remembering that we are all part of a grander purpose

engaging in my new commitment to meditate

Meditation teacher, davidji

Tonight was night 7 of the Chopra Center's 21-Day meditation challenge - a free online program that is positively affecting tens of thousands of souls on this planet, including mine.

The guiding voice, David G., whose name is actually davidji as I learned today, led us through an experience that expands self-acceptance and awareness.  There was some discussion on releasing expectations, the need to be "doing" or achieving something, and releasing judgment, knowing that the path of meditation has very different "rules" than does the demanding success-driven world we often see and experience on a day-to-day basis around us. It was refreshing.


We were also encouraged to start a journal in which we log what changes we are noticing in our lives, both within and outside of our meditation practice.  For me, this blog is a part of that journaling process.


May you find peace in even just a millisecond of your meditation experience.  May you feel relief as you release any expectations on what SHOULD be happening and as you start enjoying what IS happening.


Namaste,
Debbie aka Sulilo

We Are Not Our Emotions - The difference between "I am" and "I feel"

Emotions are temporary, or transient. Just think about this day alone.  You may have felt happy, sad, disappointed, angry, confused, and so much more, all in the course of a single day.  With that in mind, it becomes clear that we are obviously NOT our emotions.

For example, so many of us say: "I am angry," which could translate to, "I am anger."
No you are not. You are you. Feelings and emotions that come through you are transitory states.

It would be more accurate to say, "I have anger," "I am experiencing anger," or "Anger is passing through me."  This way, we do not connect our identity and who we are at the core with some fleeting things that are not who we really are.

May you take comfort in knowing that this, too, shall pass.
May you take comfort in knowing that laughter will return....that tears are a part of the cycle...and that you have all the tools you need - right inside of you - to weather any emotional storm that may be passing through.

Namaste,
Debbie aka Sulio

The Happy (Drunk?) Guy at Safeway

I made my weekly trek to the grocery stores to load up on goodies that will become wholesome meals and snack for us for the week.  I left the house earlier than usual and was pleasantly surprised by how this small adjustment in my routine allowed for a much more mellow shopping experience.  There were far less people on the roads and in the stores at 10:30 am on a Sunday than there are when I usually arrive there at about 1:30.

People seemed to be in a better mood too. Perhaps I had gotten to the stores in time to sneak a peek and enjoy the company of "the morning people"?  It sure seemed that way.

My checker at Trader Joe's was as happy as a lark, telling me about how he'd been up since 6 am and how his 2 dogs were shaking him on his bed to let him know that it was time for them to go outside.  At Safeway, I decided to pick up some flowers for a new friend for her birthday.  I picked some out and, since the clerk behind the counter was busy with another customer, I asked if she'd kindly wrap them while I made the rounds and shopped. She agreed.

I was a bit annoyed when I returned to the floral counter to see a different clerk and my flowers still sitting up on the counter.  The new clerk was helping two gentlemen who were buying many flower arrangements. "Excuse me," I said, "where is the clerk who was here earlier? I asked her to please wrap these while I was shopping."  "She got busy," the woman with kind eyes replied, "I will wrap them for you."  Something about the kindness in her eyes softened my heart, and I couldn't be irritated anymore.  I decided to wait right there, though, just to make sure I wasn't forgotten again.

Then, unexpectedly, one of the two gentlemen began joking with me and the clerks.  He smelled a little bit of alcohol, which triggered a "judge him" moment for me...then I remembered that only this morning I had suggested to my Sulilo Facebook friends that we release all judgment, for we do not know what someone has gone through or what they are currently going through.

I waited while the new clerk (and the one from earlier, who reappeared), completed the order for these gentlemen.  All the while, the boos breath guy was making me, the other customers, and the clerks behind the floral counter laugh with one witty joke after the other. It was an unexpected delight - one I never would have enjoyed and shared with the others around me had I put my nose in the air and walked away in impatience, anger, or judgment.  The senior clerk asked the man for his Safeway Club Card number (his phone number), and after he announced it to her, he nudged me and said, "Now, I hope you didn't write that down. I'm a happily married man, and I can't deal with having any stalkers."  We all giggled. It was one comment like this after another.

When I left the store with my groceries and flowers, I was glad that I had gotten up earlier this Sunday morning...glad that I arrived at the store just when I had...and glad that there was a delay in getting my flowers wrapped. It is amazing how sharing unexpected laughter, with someone who is so at ease with bringing smiles and giggles to others' hearts, can set your day up for gratitude and joy. And, it is a beautiful thing when you get to practice what you preach.

Thank you guy.

Namaste,
Debbie aka Sulilo

Is your day doomed? Live Your Yoga: Flip it around with Pranayama and Gratitude

Today was one of those days where, from the get-go, I just wanted to stay in bed and hang out with my cat...literally.  It's that time of the month, and I had a headache and felt hungover, even though I had eaten well at dinner time last night, hadn't touched any alcohol and had gone to bed at a very reasonable hour.


I thought about my options and decided to practice some Pranayama (the Yoga of breathing).  At first, I was surprised at how expansive my breath was.  For some reason, based on the tension in my jaw, head, shoulders and back upon awakening, I expected my breath to be shorter or for me to have to struggle in order to take the deep, ocean breaths that would eventually turn into smooth, silky exchange with the Universe around me. But, lo and behold, I experienced those smooth, silky, ocean breaths upon beginning the practice. It felt really good.

It also made me think: why do we often anticipate the worst instead of expecting the better scenario? Why did I expect a struggle instead of trusting and accepting that my experience would be whatever it needed to be in that given moment?  Part of it is past experience, of course.  In yoga class, I often have to work up to having a more relaxed, long flowing breath.  Perhaps practicing Pranayama in bed, even if we awaken in a tense state, is a bit easier on our lungs, organs, and our body-mind-spirit in general.  In any event, I continued practicing for about 5 minutes, all the while stretching out the tense areas in interesting yoga-like poses, while still in bed.  I got a few curious looks from my cat, but he eventually joined in on the stretch-fest, too. :)

I then began to flip the coin, and instead of imaging that it would be difficult for me to get through my work day between the combination of how I felt and thinking about my family on the east coast being at my Uncle Joe's funeral, I began to think about all of the things that I had to look forward to: My co-worker (who only comes in once a week), who just brightens the whole place up and lifts the vibration of the whole office was coming in today (I was definitely looking forward to that!), my boss was counting on me to take care of a number of things, and I enjoy my work... I was going to order a brand new, shiny, top-of-the-line cell phone that the company is providing so that I can stay connected and blog, tweet, and Facebook while in the field and while traveling....I'd get to see my Boss' wife, who always either makes me laugh or gets me thinking about something interesting (and she often offers me delicious wholesome goods from her organic garden.) 

After giving some thought to all of the blessings in store for me today, I literally lept out of bed and began to get ready.  I took extra care to pamper myself, doing my makeup nicely and taking my time with my breakfast.

Interestingly though, throughout the day I noticed a lingering undertone of insecurity. I am not sure what it was about - probably the fact that I am a very imperfect person who sometimes attains to be perfect in everyone's eyes - neurotically recounting what I've said and apologizing for things that never offended anyone to begin with.  Perhaps I was a bit more vulnerable today than other days, but whatever the case, I showed myself compassion and recited: "Today I am feeling insecure. How human of me." Then it was basically, "OK, now get on with it." No need to continue to analyze (after all, no one else was).

I was able to enjoy the day, be productive, and return to my breath and practice Pranayama with no apology. I even took a 3 minute Yoga stretch break outside in the sun :)

So, the next time you wake up thinking the day is doomed, stop for a moment and breathe deeply. Reflect on all of the wonderful possibilities for the day and things you can be grateful for, and watch your day transform before your very eyes.

Namaste,
Debbie aka Sulilo



















Photo from MultiMediaStudyEtsy on Flickr