Be Here. Now.

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it: the mindfulness movement

“If there is always another side of the coin, what makes my side the right one?”

The reality is that each of us are living our own highly conditioned versions of actual events that take place in the world. The world and most of its events are – in and of themselves – neutral, but we assign them categories based on our own experience of them.

Read more at my blog!

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it: the mindfulness movement

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it: the mindfulness movement

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rnq1NpHdmw)

Incredible, John. Thank you for helping us wake up!

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Exodus 3:14 “I am that I am”

God is everywhere. Everything. The insides and outsides of life itself. It is naturally intelligent and self-correcting. Only when things go wrong have these miracles been blocked. Blocked by our own free will. We have to step out of the way to let God take over. We have to let go of the ego, the fear, the desire for control. And just become grateful for all that we have, every day.  

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(Sorry to get political) But I stand up for what he believes and I won’t act like I don’t. 

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But, how do we get it back?

“All of our problems stem from our lack of alignment with the source of all things; with presence, with the laws of nature, the vibrating, pulsating mysteries of life, and all the words we use - and don’t use - in our languages to express that which is God. All misalignment, all dysfunction, all disorder and disease is in direct proportion to how connected you are to that source.”

-Oprah

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If you fight the dark within, you tear yourself asunder, split yourself in two. Don’t begin a holy war within… Love the dark in yourself! Honour it. Hold it gently. Flood it with the light of love. Illuminate those wounded parts, those sore and tender regions of your ancient heart. The darkness within you only longs for the light, and the light within you longs to touch the darkness.

Jeff Foster (via the-red-lotus-blog)

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May the weak say, "I am strong." Joel 3:10 What we think, we become. What will YOU think today?? Come check out it: the mindfulness movement! Classes are open to the public for $6 drop-in. First class is FREE! 12:10-12:50 at Iron Mountain Crossfit in Abingdon, VA 6:30-7:30 at Iron Mountain Endurance in Damascus, VA

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Find me on Instagram @itmindfulnessmovement for daily meditations, quotes, and mindful inspirations!

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a state of is-ness...

I used to be caught up in the notion that there was a “right” way to meditate. And still, sometimes, I find myself feeling guilty when I don’t practice daily… But, really, there is nothing to feel guilty about. My feelings of guilt don’t make any sense when I remember that I made up the line of distinction between “good” and “bad” myself. So, if I – as a result of my society – make up the standards for desirable and undesirable behaviors, emotions, or even mental states, then how can I rely on these standards to be accurate?

There is a crucial aspect to scientific research, which, when not strictly preserved, prevents the results from being valid. This aspect of the scientific process is known as reproducibility. 

If our society’s ideals shape our own judgments, then that means there are billions of personal judgments and classifications across the globe every day… and they are all different. Each of our own personal opinions brings with it judgments of “good” versus “bad”, which makes each and every judgment invalid because it is not reproducible.

Am I saying that the entire worldview you’ve come to develop is wrong? Of course not. That would be my opinion and, by definition of the word reproducible, my opinion cannot be relied on for accuracy. What I am saying is that when we can open our eyes in a moment of grace to the illusion of our thoughts, we can begin to see the simple truth of this universe; that there is no good and bad, there just is.

This is-ness isn’t about relinquishing the world, turning a blind eye to suffering, or forgetting all moral obligations. It is about reengaging our natural state; our live-in-the-now quality, which is familiar to all animals who live without neuroses. In this state, we take care of our loved ones and we do what we must to survive, but we live in peace. Stress comes up when it is adaptive, and stress leaves when it is maladaptive.

This is the true nature of life and it is what I’ve come to now understand as the nature of meditation as well. 

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An idea never leaves it’s source.

“A thought is in the mind. It can be then applied as mind directs it. But its origin is where it must be changed, if change occurs.” 

A Course In Miracles

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