Awaken Engage

Catching the morning light. Today was the first day post-Ice-Bath-Meditations. I didn’t really have a plan for this morning except to listen and watch. When I awoke, it was still in the 4 a.m. range. So, I sat in silence for a bit, put on my shorts and flip flops, walked outside, and then sat in the ice bath for awhile. Just feeling. Just experiencing. Just being so thankful for all that was passi...

Day 31: (Air: 40° / H2O: 45°) I step out of reactivity and I step into the ice bath,  allowing myself to accept and feel what is in my body. I embrace what is present. I step out of reactivity and into life, here and now. I step into this moment.  Here I am now I am here I am now I am here I am…  Being with life as it is as I am.

Day 30: (Air: 35° / H2O: 45°) Attitude of Gratitude Being with life as it is as I am Eyes of a child  Wonder and awe Releasing labels and judgment  Seeing and feeling for the first time  Welcoming and inviting opposites  Pairing Loving Awareness with each moment 

Day 29: (Air: 34° / H2O: 46°) Embracing vulnerability Practicing stepping into the clearing Being welcoming, loving presence to all that arises Working with opposites/polarities Core human needs: to be seen, heard, connected, belong Gentle Warrior Stand in the clearing and do not defend myself I am safe with myself Welcoming all that arises I am unchanging loving awareness Here I am now I am here...

Day 28: (Air: 38° F / H2O: 35° F) Feel it “I didn’t quit. I’m just not smoking today.” Echoes. Connection. Hear. Speak. Remind. Forget. Hear. Speak…. I can’t take tomorrow’s ice bath, today. Do I have what it takes to be with life as it is as I am, right now? I am safe with myself. I am here, now. Here, now is the only place/time I can ever Be. Sitting in the seat of conscious awareness. I am awar...

Day 27: (Air: 39° / H2O: 35°) Here I am now I am here I am now I am… Come to your senses Being welcoming, loving presence Being with life as it is as we are Practicing presence Learning to trust ourselves I am safe with myself Hafiz #mindfulness #coldtherapy #yoga #awakenengage #fullypresentfullyalive #icebath #yoganidra #nsdr #irest #irestyoganidra #amrityoganidra #loveyourbrain #integrativeresto...

In March of 2020, I was on my way to ending my life. As I drove toward the backcountry, despair gripped my whole being and I had decided to make it all just stop.  In the midst of my desperation, I heard the words of one my teachers, Richard Miller:  “I always have the right response to every situation.” It wasn’t just his words that appeared in that moment, it was his presence. I stoppe...

Day 25: (Air: 36° F / H2O: 33° F) Intention guiding and supporting commitment Stay awake, alert, and open Noticing and being with the present experience Working with the past and future in the present Sitting in the seat of conscious awareness Being with life as it is as I am Hands and feet are adjusting to the cold Stay open. Just don’t close. I am aware that I am aware.

Day 24: (Air: 33° F / H2O: 33° F) Gratitude Loved and Loving Who am I? Where am I? When am I? What am I? Watching the mind, feeling the body. Who is watching? Who is feeling? I am unchanging loving awareness, in which the ever-changing flow of life arises.

Day 23: (Air: 36° F / H2O: 33° F) Step out of reactivity and into the moment. Accept and feel what is in the body. Embrace what is present. Breathing in, I calm myself; breathing out, I smile. Unconscious incompetence. Conscious incompetence. Conscious competence. Unconscious competence.

Day 22: (Air: 37° F Rain / H2O: 33° F) Lesson Learned Enacting the will / Visualize it / Do it Intention: Step out of reactivity and allow myself to accept and feel what is in the body. Acknowledge feelings. Feel them. Embrace what is present. Engaging with my curriculum. Wake up. Love. Live.

Day 21: (Air: 39° F / H2O: 32.6° F) Stay open. Just don’t stop it. Just don’t prevent it. That which we welcome cannot bind us. We have the right response to every situation. Giving/Receiving. Exhaling/Inhaling. The breath is our teacher and guide. Moving from thinking and doing to feeling and being.

Day 20: (Air: 31° F / H2O: 32.2°) Being with what is Feeling sensation Harnessing the power of the thinking mind Sitting in the seat of conscious awareness 4:7:8 Breath Physiological Breath Activating the PNS (relax and release)

Day 19: (Air: 29° F / H2O: 32.2° F) Step out of the “cascade” of negativity Do this thing and the next thing the right way Tapping into self-compassion and will power Breathing in, I calm myself; Breathing out, I smile Moving from thinking and doing to Feeling and Being. Bliss. Senses wide open.

Day 18 (Air: 22° F / H20: 32° F) Autogenics (Schultz and Luthe, 1969) It is in the present that we experience real peace, love, and wisdom (Hanson) Joy doesn’t hibernate (Blair) Learning how to be with life as it is as I am. I am safe with myself.

Day 17: (Air: 15° F / H2O: 32.2° F) Conscious Awareness Sitting in the Seat of Conscious Awareness Feeling and Being / Thinking and Doing Noticing When in the Simulator Series of Scientific Inquiries and Experiments

Day 16 (Air: 2° F / H20: 32.2° F) Feels like: -6° F Wind Chill Working with Anticipation of Unknown Fun Series of Experiments and Inquiries Welcome What Arises Do It We Have the Right Response to Every Situation Using the Practice to Be Aware in the Present I Am Safe with Myself So Good. So Thankful.

Day 15: (Air: 5° F / H2O: 32.4° F) Welcoming and Feeling What Arises Deeply Acknowledging What is Present Compassion Leading to Wisdom and Action Allowing Life to Live Through Me Loving Self and Others True Self and Transformation

Day 14: (Air: 15° F / H2O: 32.2°) Finding and Following the Breath Being “With” and Not Just Pushing “Through” Listening, Welcoming, Responding with Wisdom Breathing in, I Calm Myself; Breathing Out, I Smile Noticing that Which is Constant

Day 13: (Air: 6° F / H2O: 32.4° F) Let it Be What it Is Coming to the Senses Moving Away from Judgment Moving Toward Curiosity Being Welcoming Presence

Day 12: (Air: 29°F / H2O: 33°F) Spotlight of Attention Where Attention Goes, Energy Flows Conscious Awareness Guiding Practicing Visualizing as a Support for Doing / Resiliency Training for Life Welcoming and Feeling and Being Choosing to Get In /Choosing to Stay Conscious

Day 11: (Air: 23°F / H2O: 34°) Using Visualization to Strengthen Resolve What is passing? What is constant? What remains the same? Let it Be. Let it Go. Let it In. Present-Centered Practice Seeing the Healing Effects of Cold Water on Neuropathy

Day 10: (Air: 28°F / H2O: 34°F) Choosing to Do It / Developing Resilience Let it Be. Let it Go. Let it In. New Relationships with Old Phenomena Stay Joyfully Curious I shift out of reactivity and allow myself to accept and feel what is in my body. I embrace what is present.

Day 9 (Air: 33°F / H2O: 34°F) Being Welcoming Loving Presence Let it Be, Let it Go, Let it In (Rick Hanson) Inhale / Pause / Exhale / Pause / Inhale Deep Acknowledgment and Acceptance of What Is Moving from Reaction to Responsive Wise Action

Day 8: (Air: 19°F / H2O: Ice ) Smile Breathing in, I calm myself; breathing out, I smile. It is well with my soul. I am unchanging loving awareness in which the ever-changing flow of life arises. May we be the love we seek to find in our world.