Creating Joy Along the
Way
by Ruth Meinking
Most
mornings, I walk my dog knowing we both need the fresh air and exercise. He is always ecstatic and bounds into the air leaping for
joy. We’ve decided that
if he had a word that describes him it would be “now”.
Let’s play ball now, let’s go for a walk now, let’s go in
the car now, etc. Bottom
line, he’s a now dog. He
teaches me to be in the present and create my joy.
I like the simplicity of this; simple but not easy.
It’s a lot of work to get it simple, to see what’s real, to
remember what’s really a priority.
I now know that the roots of these values were planted back on a
Kansas farm.
I
grew up in eastern Kansas and going to my grandparent’s farm offered
such a rich and diverse set of life lessons.
I remember the dirt road to the farm had several good hills,
which is a rarity in that neck of the woods.
My two sisters, brother, and I would always make a big deal of
the stomach lurches going down and the wide-eyed anticipation zooming
back up that hill. We’d pull into the circle drive between the white,
two-story house and the big red barn.
Several cars and families were already there.
We pile out of the car like puppies and opened the white picket
fence gate, anticipating the cousins, food, and fun.
When
I think back, there was always a sense of joy there.
I have a large extended family so sometimes there would be 40
people there and lots of kids. The best food around was in that house.
I was loved there, not just by my grandparents, but by the aunts
and uncles too. The adults
sat around and talked a lot about the weather and related environmental
issues, their kids, farming, hunting, and members of the family.
It was as natural as the seasons.
The adults in the dining room talking, the kids playing with the
coolest marbles behind the couch, and other kids climbing the barn
ladder to the hay loft. As
kids, we’d sneak into the kitchen and scope out the dessert choices.
Grandma would put the ironing board up in the kitchen just to put
the cookies, pies, and cobblers because there was so much food.
This was joy.
I’d
find some time to sneak out of the house and then attempt the real feat
of not being seen by one of the 20 plus other kids and head out to my
favorite meadow alone. I
loved the smell of the black, rich dirt as well as the sharp smell of
the rows of Cedar trees used for a windbreak.
I’d cross the field, past the pond and near where some cows
were grazing. I’d keep a
special look out for the bull, which usually was off by himself.
I’d slip through the Cedar tree windbreak and pop out into this
beautiful meadow which I’d claimed as mine.
In the Spring, the flowers would be so brilliant and assorted,
looking like a box of Trix cereal.
I’d run up the hill like Julie Andrews in “The Sound of
Music” singing at the top of my lungs. Yea, yea, yea, no one to hear me!!! I loved it, feeling silly at times, but still loving it so.
As
I reflect on the past ten years of my life, I am amazed at how driven I
was. Gotta do more. So much to do being a mother, wondering who I really am,
giving to others from my soul. All
so good and still so much. I
was pushing for the joy and found a lot of it but I was still pushing. I abruptly got the message to slow down, simplify and listen.
I did and went through a time of much unknown, letting go again
and again, listening, being present, and letting creativity flow.
Life began to slip into another pace from a more peaceful place. I realize now that my grandparent’s farm has been a
anchor, a safe place inside, to remind me of the blessings of community,
the smell of the rich, dark earth, and the importance of enjoying the
moment, one simple second at a time.
Just right now…Just right now.
[ Return to
Top ]
Living
a Holistic Lifestyle
By
Ruth Meinking
We see the
word holistic in many different places today.
We associate it with words like whole, wholesome, Spirit,
balance, and nature. I am
delighted to see this emerging into mainstream America.
But, what does this mean in our everyday life and how do we truly
live it? I believe holistic
means that each person is a system of body, emotions, mind and spirit.
We experience homeostasis when these components are attended to
and in a fluid balance.
Here
are some ideas for living a holistic lifestyle. We can wonder and theorize about it but the true joy lies in
living it. Each aspect of
ourselves needs attending to.
Let’s
start with your body and how you treat it.
Do you love it, all of it, no matter what? We honor our body by loving it, especially the parts we may
like to be different than they are.
Feeding our body food it functions on best also helps us stay in
balance. Listen to your
body and feed it food that supports health and well being.
Remember, you are what you eat!
Also, stretch and exercise your body in ways that works for you
and do it regularly. I
enjoy yoga, walking, and biking. If
you don’t already have a routine, be creative in starting one that you
enjoy.
Now,
for your emotions – all of them.
Many people learn at a young age that some emotions are supported
by those around you and others are not.
You may have grown up in a family where anger was inappropriately
expressed and you then decided never to be like that.
Guess What? Your
anger then gets stuffed down inside you and usually surfaced in a big,
inappropriate way when you least want it to.
Take time to feel your emotions.
They’re yours and it honors you to feel them.
Let loose of the emotions you’ve held from the past.
Feel your emotions healthily today and let them move through you
like wind or water. Find
healthy ways to release the intense emotions, such as exercise, hitting
with a bat, breath work, or painting.
Your
mind required attending to because it can run rampant a lot of the time.
Our self-talk, left unattended, can spew negative thoughts 24
hours a day. Meditation is
a way to let our mind be still and be receptive to Spirit that is only
love and positive energy. Let
go of negative beliefs you may base your life on and tell yourself the
truth about your wholeness. Transform
“I’ll never be enough” to “I am plenty”.
Let go of “I’m not lovable” to “I’m unconditionally
loved by Spirit”. You can
journal, join a support group, read, or teach. Over time, the old “tapes” of limiting beliefs will fade
away because they’re not getting the “air time” they used to.
Fill your mind with truth and you will be free.
Our
spiritual nature is that unique expression of Spirit that is you.
We get to celebrate this in a variety of ways.
One of the ways I enjoy this is in create a sacred space or altar
at home. This is a special
place where you may meditate, draw, journal, or chant to remember and
celebrate your Spirituality. The
altar may include candles, incense, special shells or stones, and/or
handmade objects that have special meaning to you. Take time each day to be with this altar and affirm your
Oneness. Declare your
intentions about your day. Intentions
are affirmations infused with the energy of Divine Spirit.
Let this guide and support you throughout your day.
Also, take time during your workday to breath in Spirit, to
remind yourself that you are Spirit fed and Spirit led.
When
we attend to the different aspects of ourselves, we begin to live a
holistic lifestyle with grace, peace and trust.
We feel the balance from within.
Throughout the day, pay attention, without judgment, to your
body, emotions, mind, and Spirit. Notice
how it’s going and then choose how you can honor this whole, wonder
expression of the Divine that is you.
Namaste!
[ Return to
Top ]
Setting Intentions for the New Year
By
Ruth Meinking
You may
find yourself hopeful this New Year for your life to be different, for
problems to go away, and for life to be easier.
I encourage you to take the leap from hope to faith this year and
put the power of intention into action in your life.
I
recently read a definition of faith – moving from hope to faith takes
place because of love. When
we start to truly love ourselves we can start to see the light of
deserving shining as a beacon to guide our way.
Intentions are based in love and faith and can be potent guiding
lights for you for this next beautiful New Year.
Intentions
are declarations you make with yourself to follow a certain direction. This is very different that a New Year’s resolution.
For most people a New Year’s resolution comes from guilt, what
I should do, or self beat up. For example, I should get going with an exercise problem,
I’ve got to lose 20 pounds, I need to start eating better, etc.
These statements are disempowering and the motivation doesn’t
last and neither does the action or the result.
This
year use the power of your mind and the fuel of your emotions to set
your course in an empowering and personal way.
We all have the ability to change our thinking, our belief
systems, and our patterns. Some
we want to keep, some are good to leave behind.
You may have a subconscious belief that you don’t deserve to
have what you really want, or that life is hard, or that you’re
unlovable. I call these
erroneous beliefs. You can
change these. Visualize how
you truly want to be different inside this year.
Let your senses and emotions bring it to life – see it, feel
it, hear it! You may want
to be peaceful at the end of the day.
You wonder now, “Can that really happen?”
Yes, it can! The
intention that would go with that could be, “I experience peace in my
thoughts, emotions, and actions throughout each day.”
This intention, backed by the image of it, will guide you in the
direction you want to go this year.
Another
example would be “I’m at my perfect weight now.”
Visualize from the inside how that feels and looks.
This is also about having faith in knowing this is possible and
accepting whatever that perfect weight is.
You get to love yourself each step of the way.
Your self-talk gets to match your intention.
Your motivation will continue because you have a clear image of
where you’re going.
Let
the power of your mind and emotions support you this year in creating
what you want. Have faith
that intentions can guide your way in creating a fresh and new way of
thinking, supported by your emotions, to take the positive action that
will create the results you deserve.
Happy New Year!
Written
by Ruth Meinking, a Monument resident and holistic counselor at the
Institute of Natural Healing in Colorado Springs.
You can reach her at 632-0008 or 260-1400.
[ Return to Top ]
Stay
the Course
By
Ruth Meinking
Well now
it’s March and I’m wondering how you’re doing with your good ideas
and New Year’s resolutions you made a couple months ago.
Have they slipped to the way side or are you staying on track?
Sometimes it’s a challenge to get our boat out of an old
pattern or rut and stay the course on the new, healthier one.
If we do not know what port
we’re steering for, no wind is favorable.”
Seneca
The first
observation is whether or not you have a internally motivated desire
inside that supports you in moving towards what you want – what you
set as a priority to focus on. True
motivation occurs from the
inside out. It is a desire,
yearning, and energy that spurs us onward, amidst adversity,
distraction, and laziness. Motivation
is a tension that exists because you haven’t fully realized the goal
or focus. It’s like a
rubber band on the propeller of a toy airplane.
The plane moves when the rubber band is wound up.
Play with the idea of what sails your plane.
It’s a fun way to cultivate and focus the energy instead of
shoulds, have to or supposed to.
“Begin with the end in
mind.” Stephen Covey
Being
and staying in integrity is
like your rudder on your boat. It
keeps you going where you want to with lower stress and more energy.
Here’s a great way to remember what integrity is and how to let
it lead you with your intentions.
When
our values match our behaviors we are in integrity.
For example, I have a value of honesty.
I’m in integrity when I tell the truth.
Another value would be compassion.
When I have thoughts, feelings and behaviors that match this, I
lower my stress because I’m being authentic and I have more energy
because I’m aligned with myself.
Imagine a bicycle that has a wobbly front tire.
You try to ride it and it takes a lot of energy and may be
stressful because it’s not lined up with the rest of the bike.
Stay in integrity with your values and you’ll find it’s
earlier and more peaceful to stay the course with your intentions.
“I want
to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams,
for the adventure of being alive…”Oriah Mountain Dreamer
[ Return to Top ]
Rejuvenating
your Body, Mind, and Spirit
By
Ruth Meinking
Summer is a great time to take
time for yourself. This can
be challenging when so many activities are available, especially if you
have children. Let this be
a reminder to balance your own needs along with those of others.
Instead of letting the summer slip by,
take a few minutes to reflect on what really give you pleasure
and relaxation.
You can
create ways to rejuvenate yourself which you can included in your daily
summer routine. Have a
facial, take a walk in the Garden of the Gods, or have lunch with a
friend. Plan
something each week that lifts your spirits.
Imagine having a massage, listening to ocean music and letting
your busy mind be empty. Now
that’s satisfying!
Now, look at
planning what I call mini-vacations - one, two or three days to treat
yourself. When you let
yourself “unplug” you can feel the stress release just by stepping
out of your daily routine. The
key is to do it, not just
think about it. Many of us
are bombarded by challenges, busyness, and the constant flood of
technology. Imagine with me that you’re at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs
floating in warm, soothing water. Enjoy
hearing the river flow by and see the white beautiful clouds overhead.
Ahhhhh! This can be
you this summer. Other
activities may be biking, hiking, or exploring a mountain town.
Your mind, body and spirit will thank you for the gift.
A longer
vacation can give you even more peace, as long as you don’t try to
pack in too much along the way. With the stresses of 9-11,
the fires, the drought, and perhaps family issues, let the sweet beauty
of nature soothe your spirit, move out the kinks and knots in your body,
and allow for acknowledgement and release of
your emotions. Let
nature inspire you to remember that there is a bigger picture and a
higher good always taking place. Let
us remember that we are co-creators in our lives and give ourselves the
gift to create our thoughts, honor our emotions, and take care of our
bodies.
Feel the
benefits of this wonderful treatment you can give yourself.
Now plan it and enjoy the experience.
By Ruth
Meinking, LPC, Holistic Counselor and Fearless Living Coach
1495 Garden of the Gods
Rd., #105
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
719-632-0008
[ Return to
Top ]
Coping Strategies for
Maintaining Wellness
By
Ruth Meinking
Emotional
Well-being:
Practice venting, not complaining - let the “lid” off in healthy ways
Be aware of what you’re feeling and just feel it. For example, it’s healthy to feel your sadness without making yourself wrong for it.
Don’t take things personal. Other people have their feelings too and you don’t need to take responsibility for them, just you.
Mental
Well-being:
Be willing to recognize the reality of situations and tell yourself the truth. An example would be if you’re unemployed, you get to stay focused on being employable versus making up a story that you’ll end up living under a bridge soon.
Be your own champion. Be encouraging and supportive to yourself. Tell yourself “I’m doing the best I can”. “I can learn and grow from this experience”. “I’m a good person no matter what”.
Physical Well-being:
Take care of your body. It’s the only one you have and you can’t trade it in for a new one. Your body needs exercise and to be fed well.
Spiritual Well-being:
Take time to connect to your Higher Power or however you experience Spirit.
Meditation gives your busy mind a break to be quiet and receive “refueling” from the universe.
Create meaningful Spiritual practices that feed your soul.
[ Return to
Top ]
