When I Do That Voodoo That I Do

Time after time, I find myself doing the same foolish thing,
and then magically remembering that I have already made
the discovery-- and decision--to stop doing it!

Why on earth do we make choices that are unnecessary
and put us through hell, often to find ourselves in either
the same old place or one that is familiar enough in its
dissatisfying nature?

Whether it's stress eating (when I really know I'm not
even hungry,) or  getting caught up in a guy that doesn't
even know I exist (which is, of course, part of the maso-
chistic thrill of it,) the habit of doing certain things is a
strong draw.

Habituation takes constant, focused effort to counter-act.

We often want something for no valid reason except that
it is familiar to us; the longer our neurons have fired a
certain way, the more deeply attached we are to it.
(Same goes for our bad choices of mate!)

We get to a point where we have to listen to our conscious
mind and what we intellectually know to be smart, rather
than giving in to our emotional pull which lies to us and
suggests that the negative or poor choice is the one we
'want' since it causes the same old chemical responses
to fire and release!

The process of breaking down old habits for our own
good is a daunting one, and takes will power and patience.

The grass isn't always greener, but our fantasies may
take some time catching up to that.

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Retreat Script, January (part One)

"I do what I love, and the world loves what I do."
 -Alan Cohen, "a deep breath of life"



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intro..

Good morning everyone; my name is Robert Sayre, and welcome
to the retreat!


I chose the name "Healthy Revolution" because being mindful and
having a specific goal requires clarity and specific wording. Because
of what we fight against with bad habits and the enticements of the
world, a true revolution is required in both thought and action.


Maybe we made some new year's resolutions aimed at health and
fitness? Maybe we even kept some. But did we make a focused
determination to change how we think?
How we feel?
How we act spiritually?


So, today we'll be looking at 4 things;


-How we view ourselves


-Why are we so needy?


-Why do we have so much conflict?


-How to discover and promote our true selves


So...who's responsible for us? All of us are over 18 and able-bodied.
Is a parent responsible? A child? A spouse? A boss?
No, of course we are responsible for ourselves. Maybe we find
ourselves guilty of blaming others for treating us poorly....or for
partners not doing what we want. But we still are responsible.
We bring into our periphery exactly what we need.


If people are taking advantage of us, it is not their job to look out
for our best interests; it is our job to learn how to defend ourselves
against people who would do us wrong. to learn how better to
spot these people.


To learn the lesson of not being so vulnerable and open to harm.

Spirituality is not passive or weak.

WHO ARE YOU?


What makes up your identity? Is it a job, a hobby, spouse,
friends, causes, money, kids, looks?
(Have the class consider or write down)
Or is it something more?


If externals were removed or changed, what of 'you' would
remain? (offer the scenario from 'Trading Spaces' )


Is your esteem based on these external things?
What of your identity is internally based?
On spiritual skills, ideals, abilities, lovingness?
Would other people evaluate you the same as you do yourself?
Does how others think about you affect what you do?
How do we discover who we 'really' are?


Buddhism focuses on the idea of 'impermenance,' the under-
standing that all things pass away; from money to looks to
health, relationships and love to life itself.


What is it that we can truly depend upon? I assert that
we can and must depend upon self. For many that's a given,
but for others of us it's a fundamental of life that has been
overlooked.


(continued)....

Protecting Your Assets

Remember that whatever may transpire

around you, you still have control and

authority over your

inner landscape.

Treat it--and yourself--like a

treasured garden.

Be of utmost discriminating tastes about

every little thing that enters your abode;

the food, the drink, the quality of air,

the noise you hear, the medications,

and every individual thing.

Question what its purpose is and

whether you wish it for yourself.

You have the right.

Have a safe and happy New Year!

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Behind the Facade

"The spectacle of what is called religion, or at any rate organised religion,

in India and elsewhere, has filled me with horror and I have frequently

condemned it and wished to make a clean sweep of it. Almost always it

seemed to stand for blind belief and reaction, dogma and bigotry,

superstition, exploitation and the preservation of vested interests."

                                                                   
                                                                             — Nehru

                    *************************************************************

Recommended Daily Checklist

Recommended Daily Checklist

Start the day—and end the day—with focus on positive thoughts


Focus on the moment at hand


No complaints


No blame


No self-pity


OWN YOUR SPACE


Assert your worth


Recognize how unimportant most things are


Make good use of time


Relax and let it be


Don’t tear others down to feel good about self


Don’t assume


Be kind to your mistakes—and others’


Take responsibility


Help another, without judgment


Embrace difficulty


Try new things; RISK


Trust that all is well; worry is a worthless emotion


People are doing the best they know how


Know your strength; meet challenges


Focus on gratitude, not lacking


Be your own cheerleader


Hold to a higher ideal; even if alone,
even if your heart isn’t in it

 
*************************************

One Moment at a Time

Even if you feel like you can't do a lot,

every one of us can do a little.

Right where we are, every day, for a little

bit of time...we can make a differnce.

You don't start off a battle by

trying to win the whole war.

It's incremental, slow, strategic, one step at

a time. Taking care of our bodies is a battle.

We are in a war for our well-being.

If you're pressed for time, do

exercises where you're at.

Do squats while you brush your teeth.

Do side bends while vacuuming.

Do isometric muscle tensing while driving.

If you work at a desk, do knee lifts and

foot rotations and neck stretches.

Take stairs.

Walk during your lunch break, even if

just around the building.

When it's cold, walk at the grocery store.

Eat just a little less than normal, once a day.

Eat your last meal a little earlier in the day.

Cut starches just one meal a day.

Do without butter just one meal a day.

Every little decision adds up to an end result.

Don't buy the baloney that you can't affect

real change right where you are, right

like you are. You can start a revolution

without severe cosmetic or financial

or geographic changes;

life happens wherever we are.

One choice at a time.

**********

Conscious Eating

When it comes to food and eating, we have very little
actual requirements. I'm speaking of our basic biological
requirements.

We need to eat for nutritional intake to maintain our bodies,
health, and mass. (Now, getting specific, the level of protein
you need, the vitamins, etc, is very specific. But our reason
for putting food in our bodies--as a necessity--is very simple.)

However, we are a by-product of a prosperous and spoiled
society, and a technological society, and our eating habits and
motives have become varied. And negative.

We eat because others are eating.
We eat what it is convenient to eat.
We eat the amounts that others give us.
We eat because we are bored.
We eat so as to not have any leftovers left to save.
We eat to fill an emotional void.
We eat to finish the bag.
We eat because we're angry and not paying attention.

But the bottom line on all of these patterns of behavior is
that we are not truly PRESENT in the moment, paying
attention to what we are doing...and more importantly,
the EFFECTS of eating what we are eating.

It's important to recognize the correlation between our
actions and our consequences. Our weight, our health,
our energy levels, our longevity, our very lives are effected
by the quantity and quality of every single thing we place
in our mouths.

Hard as it is, we have to get out of a habitual action of
eating whatever is available, or eating to medicate feelings.
If we are learning to care about self, we must learn to consider
and deliberate what we are doing and how it relates to our
body's actual nutritional needs.

We need plenty of water, vegetables, fruits, and protein.
We need less fats and oils and sugar.
What have we had so far today?
How much are we eating beyond quelling hunger?
What would make me feel better?

Stop. Think. Consider.
We are responsible for our well-being...and we must make
the changes required to adjust to better living.