GOOD HUMANING: DON'T CHOKE YOUR DREAMS

A primary principle of Buddhism is the idea that one’s self-absorption leads to suffering. When we hold our focus lightly, we are happier.

My grandfather had a similar piece of advice when giving me pointers on my non-existent golf game, “Hold the club like a small chick, never squeeze too hard.”

I think of that often, as I try to loosen my grip on goals or beliefs I might be holding too tightly.

…getting out of debt.

…publishing “on time.”

…reaching my “number.”

…believing that I am right.

I know that when I hold on to any of these goals too tightly, I am holding myself back.

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This post-series is about trying to anchor my experience by exploring within and reminding myself about what it means to practice "good humaning." It's about moving forward imperfectly. To follow this thread in my posts, look for these tags: #NotesFromMyYogaJournal

Good Humaning: Don't expect applause.

Don’t do your work for applause.

If you count on receiving credit for your work and good deeds you’ll never be fully satisfied. You’ll always want just a little bit more.

Just do your work anyway. You are the person paying attention when no one is watching, and that is enough.

GOOD HUMANIING: Learn softly

What would it be like to learn softly?

Instead of being like a cracked seed pod, what would it be like to be a fleshy bulb, nestled in the dirt?

/This post-series is about trying to anchor my experience by exploring within and reminding myself about what it means to practice “good humaning.” It’s about moving forward imperfectly. To follow this thread in my posts, look for these tags: #NotesFromMyYogaJournal

GOOD HUMANING: Don't just skim the surface

I try not to waste my time just skimming the surface in my work or in my relationships.

I don’t know how long I have, and I want my time and efforts to have impact.

/This post-series is about trying to anchor my experience by exploring within and reminding myself about what it means to practice “good humaning.” It’s about moving forward imperfectly. To follow this thread in my posts, look for these tags: #NotesFromMyYogaJournal

Good Humaning: Don't dwell

Don’t dwell in self-pity.

There are days when I have to catch myself, when nothing appears to be going right and I can’t catch a break. It is then I need to catch myself and recognize the feeling fro what it is, a feeling.

Feelings want to float, even the ones that feel heavy, like balloons in the wind.

If I choose to dwell in the feeling, it will never pass. Holding on to a balloon of self-pity just makes me miserable, as well as those around me.

/This post-series is about trying to anchor my experience by exploring within and reminding myself about what it means to practice “good humaning.” It’s about moving forward imperfectly. To follow this thread in my posts, look for these tags: #NotesFromMyYogaJournal

GOOD HUMANING: There is freedom in examination

Photo by Susanne Schwarz

Be fearless about knowing yourself.

Understand how you move toward freedom and toward suffering. This kind of self knowledge can give you freedom from getting hooked by the same people, the same behaviors that amount to little more than self-centered thoughts and emotions. They hook us because we expected something different.

/This post-series is about trying to anchor my experience by exploring within and reminding myself about what it means to practice “good humaning.” It’s about moving forward imperfectly. To follow this thread in my posts, look for these tags: #NotesFromMyYogaJournal

Good Humaning: Be deliberate

Practice deliberately to strengthen the natural capability for compassion.

/This post-series is about trying to anchor my experience by exploring within and reminding myself about what it means to practice “good humaning.” It’s about moving forward imperfectly. To follow this thread in my posts, look for these tags: #NotesFromMyYogaJournal

GOOD HUMANING: My first thoughts are not my fault

Fear is the oldest emotion. It’s what keeps us alive.

Our first thoughts are never our fault.

It’s what we decide to do next that matters.

/This post-series is about trying to anchor my experience by exploring within and reminding myself about what it means to practice “good humaning.” It’s about moving forward imperfectly. To follow this thread in my posts, look for these tags: #NotesFromMyYogaJournal

GOOD HUMANING: Practice without bias

Practice without bias in everything that I do. I have to remember to do this with persistence and wholehearted effort.

Everything I encounter and everyone that I meet is part of my practice. Because everything and everyone I encounter is an opportunity for me to cultivate compassion and gain wisdom:

• the client who avoids their work, and themselves

• the dance partner who is just trying to keep up

• the self-serving looking for “free”

• the peer who seeks to undermine

• the direct who just doesn’t get it and isn’t finding a way to help themselves

• the the boss who harms

• the stakeholder who undercuts my strategy

…these kinds of experiences and more, are where it’s critical to process my “first thoughts” and see what insights unfold from there.

Everything and everyone represents a step in my life. My response determines if that is up or down, backward or forward.

/This post-series is about trying to anchor my experience by exploring within and reminding myself about what it means to practice “good humaning.” It’s about moving forward imperfectly. To follow this thread in my posts, look for these tags: #NotesFromMyYogaJournal

GOOD HUMANING: The three are intertwined

The three being my body, my speech, and my mind.

My actions, what I say, and my thoughts are intertwined from how I train my mind (or don’t) to be compassionate.

If I don’t exercise, I am not being compassionate to my body.

If I don’t lead with kindness, I am not being compassionate to others (and very likely not myself, either).

If I don’t think kind thoughts, of myself or others, well..

My training is all around me.

/This post-series is about trying to anchor my experience by exploring within and reminding myself about what it means to practice “good humaning.” It’s about moving forward imperfectly. To follow this thread in my posts, look for these tags: #NotesFromMyYogaJournal