imagineenigami

out of focus

Susan Faith Corl — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:53:56 +0000

I have always had a hard time focusing on what I need to do. I am interested in so many things that I get easily distracted. When I get excited about something, I tend to order a bunch of books on the topic and look up articles about it. So much so that I am then overwhelmed with all of the new knowledge or lack of knowledge, because I never have time to get through all of those books. This tends to take me far away from my goal and make me more stressed because I’m still not doing what I need to be doing. When this happens, I have to back up and revisit my goals and objectives. The best way to do that is to take some deep breaths using one of Dr. Andrew Weil’s methods, close my eyes, and focus on my breathing for several minutes. This slows my mind down so that I can think about my next steps. The techniques are easy to do, but they take a few practices to notice an effect. When you get out of focus, try breathing, and watch your world become clear again.

meditation challenge

Susan Faith Corl — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:29:02 +0000

I’d like to invite you to take the 21 day mediation challenge from the Chopra Center.

It’s free, easy, and soooooo relaxing! Click the image above to go to the registration.

watching the wheels

Susan Faith Corl — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:12:44 +0000

John Lennon had a song in the ‘80s called Watching the Wheels. It was about getting out of the rat race and moving to your own time. This is what mindfulness is to me. It is sometimes very difficult to live life in a mindful way because many of us are so used to striving for that next thing. We can’t enjoy where we are because we are thinking about how much better life would be if we had that thing or got that promotion. When we do get what we were striving for, often it isn’t what we thought it would be, so we strive for something better and different. It becomes a vicious cycle with no ending. I’m not saying that we should not have ambition or drive, but we shouldn’t let it dictate how we live our lives. If you want to sit and watch the wheels go round and round, do it. Bring some peace back into your life and see how it feels.

The spill journals I have been doing are a perfect example of this. I’m enjoying creating with different media without judging my work. When I do other drawings, I am constantly erasing and trying to make it look like something. These journals are freeing. Like life, I will continue to work on making my drawings better, but I won’t stress over it like I used to.

judging, spill journals, and monkey minds

Susan Faith Corl — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:05:35 +0000

Good news! I was reading a section in the mindfulness book, and found out that we don’t have to try and control our monkey minds as we meditate. The authors state that the purpose of meditation is not to control the mind, as I previously thought. It is a way to focus on the mind, to determine when and where the mind wanders. They mention that, “The mere act of observing your thoughts soothes them by holding them gently in a larger space. They tend to diffuse (p. 130).” What do you continually focus on? Don’t judge; just notice the thought and return to meditation.

I also started journal spilling this week. This is a way to create art journals using mixed media. My first journal entry was a blatant attempt at relaxation. I randomly chose crayons to write the word relax; then, I made a wash with watercolor to create a resist. I found that my mind kept judging the colors that I chose. I often chose the same color several times, and I wanted the color arrangement to look differently. This judging is diametrically opposed to the purpose of journaling. Judging is also a topic that is discussed in the book, On Becoming an Artist by Ellen J. Langer. Although this book is 7 years old, it has some great tips for everyone discovering the artist within. I found this book at the library by accident. This is part of intention, which I will discuss in my next post.

mind your mind

Susan Faith Corl — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:41:35 +0000

Mindfulness training is harder than I thought. I always thought all you had to do is just lie there and breath, but it turns out there is more to it than that. You have to free your mind and concentrate on the body. That, for me, is really hard to do. First of all, I have a lot of aches and pains, so I tend to focus on that. Also, I have a terrible habit of thinking about the past or future, which makes me tense up and start stressing again. The key to mindfulness training is to stay in the present and concentrate on what is happening there. Easier said than done, but with daily practice, it can be achieved.

Something that can help is the mindfulness audio sessions that accompany Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. You can get to the audios by clicking the image above. There are several sessions you can try there, and the voice has a lovely British accent to relax you even more. Relax your mind and stay in the moment, and you will begin to find that the thoughts of yesterday and the worries about tomorrow start to fade away with each exhale.

Namaste

never too old to color

Susan Faith Corl — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:50:48 +0000

Do you still color? Probably not. Why do many of us stop coloring when we get to be adults? Maybe we find it too juvenile, or simply feel we don’t have time for it. I disagree with these and any other objections to coloring. The act of coloring, like doodling, can be very meditative. It slows down the brain and body and gives you a chance to take a breath and relax. Like doodling, coloring can be done at any time and any place. If you start getting anxious at work, take a break and color for a few minutes. You can even just color at your desk if you have one. Coloring can be a way to relax in the evening. You can do it during your favorite TV shows or before you go to bed.

The process is similar to doodling, only you just color in the lines. Don’t judge the colors you pick or how you are coloring. If you find that you are making decisions about color, close your eyes and pick a color. Don’t even think about where you are going to place the color; just pick it and move to the paper. If you are not happy doodling first, purchase a coloring book and color in the pictures. I don’t recommend this, though. The process works better if you draw your own doodle. As you are coloring, clear your mind of any thoughts and concentrate on your breathing. As with meditation, if thoughts pop into your head, dismiss them and return to the breathing. Pull out those colored pencils or steal your kids’ crayons and get started!

31 acres: a microcosm

Susan Faith Corl — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:04:00 +0000

We’ve been having some beautiful winter days here in Ohio, and yesterday was exceptionally nice. The sky was a bright blue, and the air was crisp and clear. It was so pretty that it made me want to take a walk, so I did. We have a township road that goes through our property. Well, the state calls it a road, but it is really just a dirt lane. Whatever you call it, it is a pretty good path for walking. As I strolled down the lane, I began to notice things that I didn’t before. The Christmas Ferns, so-called for their ability to stay green all year-long, were still there. Trees that fell during the 2004 ice storm were still scattered all over the hill. I’m used to these, but I started seeing different things. There were rock formations that I never noticed before. Several trees had unique bark or burls. Of course, the stray beer bottle was there under a fern. I got my camera and took pictures of these little things I saw and put them in my Flickr account. The pictures can be seen in the right side bar. I will take my camera with me from now on when I go for walks on our 31 acres to document the little things I notice. This is a pleasant way to practice mindfulness. I encourage you to get out into nature and pay attention to what you see. It can really ground you.

do you doodle?

Susan Faith Corl — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:27:47 +0000

Do you doodle? I love to doodle; I always have. I used to doodle in notebooks during long lectures. I doodled in my journals while dreaming about marrying David Cassidy or Donny Osmond. Sometimes I doodled on objects that would get me in trouble, like desks or walls, but not often. I still doodle when I’m in a meeting or on long phone conversations. So, if I am talking to you and I suddenly get very quiet, you know that I am doodling. Those are usually my best doodles.

Recently, I started doodling as a meditation technique. All you need for this is a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. You can get more elaborate and add colored pencils, crayons, etc. Don’t go out and buy special materials. Be green, and use all of that junk mail that you throw away. Sometimes I like to use Photoshop if my computer is handy.

When you do the doodle, just let your mind go blank and move your hand around the page. That’s all there is to it. Don’t judge your drawing, and don’t contemplate what you will draw; just draw. It is okay to draw an object, but don’t do this if you tend to criticize what you draw. The purpose here is to relax your mind. A repeated mark or gesture, such as many little dashes or circles, usually helps free the mind so that you do not have to think about your next move. You just can relax and let the pen flow across the paper. Relax, doodle, relax, doodle, relax…

two suitcases and a watermelon

Susan Faith Corl — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:28 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

I read somewhere that we often go through life like we are carrying two suitcases and a watermelon. That image has stuck with me for a long time, and I have conjured it up each time I feel really stressed or have set too many goals for myself. It is always there to remind me to put the cases and melon down, take a break and go slowly. How many times have you piled on more than you can take because of your own lofty goals or someone else’s? When we do this, we often don’t stop to think if one more thing is really what is best for us, or if we should just take on a limited amount of projects and do them to the best of our abilities. The question that usually goes through the mind is, “What will they think if I say no or say I can’t do it?” Will they think I’m a failure? What is worse than saying no is taking on too much and then doing a poor job or not completing things on time or not at all. It is much better to set realistic goals, ones you can do in a reasonable amount of time given the tools you have to work with.

I must admit that I do this all of the time. I get excited about something and go full force, but then I realize that I

Image via Wikipedia

can’t do it all at once, or that I ordered a bunch of books on the subject but would never be able to read them before they are due, or I have taken on too many projects that I will never be able to…My mind whirls and my head aches. Stop the madness, and be mindful about what you can really do and do it to the best of your ability. With that being said, I hope that you will forgive me for not following my 8 step program exactly as planned. I simply realized that I had to change some things and other things would not be workable with the tools and time that I have available. I have, however, stayed off of caffeine and alcohol for 8 days. That is the longest I’ve ever gone without caffeine. It was very tough at first, but it got easier around the fourth day. Follow the weekly progress on the 8 step plan. You’ll find it in the right side bar.

There goes one suitcase and the other, and yes, there it goes; the watermelon is down without incident. My step seems so much lighter as I walk away.

mindfulness and risotto

Susan Faith Corl — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:06:51 +0000

If you have ever made risotto, you know that it is not a fast process. First, add 2 tbsp butter and let that melt. Add 2 tbsp of olive oil to the butter. It is important that you add this much fat so that the risotto doesn’t get sticky. Then, add chopped scallions and let them cook for a few minutes, but make sure to not let them get too brown. Once the scallions are cooked, add 1 cup of risotto. Stir this until the rice is slightly browned but not too brown, about 2 minutes. This is the part that takes awhile. Begin adding 3 cups of broth one half cup at a time. I use vegetable broth, but you can use chicken or beef. Water can also be added if you don’t have broth handy. At this time, any veggies you like can be added. I like to throw in some chopped kale. Stirring the rice can almost be zen-like. There is not much else to do but stir and watch the rice absorb the liquid. This is a perfect time to sneak in a meditation or practice mindfulness training.

The mindfulness book that I am using to go through the 8 week program came in last week. Although I haven’t finished it, I have learned a lot about mindfulness and have been trying to practice it throughout the day. For example, as I am writing this, I am listening to the tick of the keys and the inhale and exhale of my breath. I am smelling and tasting the green tea that is in my Quiet Storm teal mug. I feel the chill of the room as I wrap my granny square afghan tighter around my legs. Last week I wouldn’t have noticed any of these things. Mindfulness training has opened up a new awareness that I haven’t had since I was a child. It surely makes the world seem more interesting. I will be talking more about this process in future posts, but for now, try to pay attention to everything you do. You will be amazed at how much you have been missing.