Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Musings about ego
Oh Ego... How you rear your ugly head.
Yes ugly, that would be me passing judgement. Rather egoic, don't you think?
I find it so funny that the more aware of ego I am, the more obvious it appears. You'd think the awareness would keep it harnessed, but no. Ego is a slippery bugger and it wiggles from it's restraints more frequently than I'd care to admit.
How often do I love hearing that I'm right. Knowing I'm right inside doesn't bring nearly as much contentment as hearing it. It's the sweetest tasting flattery, and my ego laps at the dish hungrily.
How often does the artist in me become flattered when someone likes something I've created (be it jewellery, a painting, a theatre piece, a recording), and equally flip with my back up (and spikes sharpened) when it is critiqued.
Ego is the voice that tells us we are not good enough, smart enough, talented enough, etc unless we receive external validation of our worth. When we receive criticisms, it tells us "See? I told you you weren't X enough" and when we receive commendation, it fluffs our feathers and parades around like a peacock.
The point is not to be told we're good or bad.
The point is to know our worth, our "good-ness" without needing for it to come from the
outside.
I see you Ego... and you're not the boss of me. I just need to keep reminding myself of that.
Yes ugly, that would be me passing judgement. Rather egoic, don't you think?
I find it so funny that the more aware of ego I am, the more obvious it appears. You'd think the awareness would keep it harnessed, but no. Ego is a slippery bugger and it wiggles from it's restraints more frequently than I'd care to admit.
How often do I love hearing that I'm right. Knowing I'm right inside doesn't bring nearly as much contentment as hearing it. It's the sweetest tasting flattery, and my ego laps at the dish hungrily.
How often does the artist in me become flattered when someone likes something I've created (be it jewellery, a painting, a theatre piece, a recording), and equally flip with my back up (and spikes sharpened) when it is critiqued.
Ego is the voice that tells us we are not good enough, smart enough, talented enough, etc unless we receive external validation of our worth. When we receive criticisms, it tells us "See? I told you you weren't X enough" and when we receive commendation, it fluffs our feathers and parades around like a peacock.
The point is not to be told we're good or bad.
The point is to know our worth, our "good-ness" without needing for it to come from the
outside.
I see you Ego... and you're not the boss of me. I just need to keep reminding myself of that.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Today's quote
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
- Confucious
- Confucious
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Today's quote
Found this on facebook today, and found it wonderfully poignant.
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace."
- Jimi Hendrix
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace."
- Jimi Hendrix
Monday, April 26, 2010
QotD
“So many of our dreams at first seems impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” - Christopher Reeve
Friday, April 23, 2010
Today's quote
I have learned that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. –Henry David Thoreau
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Quote of the day
Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Monday, April 19, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
All you need is....
...You know what comes next... Love... Except today's blog is not about attracting a romantic partner, or loving those around you... it's about loving YOURSELF.
Ah humans... how we complicated, well, everything. Everything is simple if you can see the beauty and perfection in it, however this is rarely the path we choose. We scrutinize, analyze, criticize and other "izes" things to death and it strips us of the purity of just BEING in the moment.
If we look hard enough (and sadly, we often do) we can find flaws in anything. Look at half the magazine covers next time you're in the grocery store check out. Half will be dedicated to idolizing celebrity, and the other half will be dedicated to finding something wrong with them (debauchery, scandal, CELLULITE).
Then you have the terrible small talk topic: the weather. It's raining, it's snowing, it's too cold, too hot, too SOMETHING. Except that what if, it's exactly as it's supposed to be? Because it is. What if what we need is a change in perspective? Perhaps it's not too cold, but an excuse to wear that cute scarf? What if instead of seeing the rain, you see the opportunity to share an umbrella with someone special? Do you see where I'm going with this?
Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we fixate on the "bad" and miss out on the opportunity that exists behind every experience. Experience... something we would not have the blessed to have if it weren't for the bodies we were born into. The same bodies we pick apart and criticize as well. And we identify with these bodies, so when we attack them with our words and thoughts we attack ourselves because we have yet to see the difference. Without these bodies, too tall, too skinny, too short, too fat, too whatever, we wouldn't be able to witness a sunset. Feel a warm breeze caresse our skin. Smell freshly baked bread. Soak in a hot bath. I could go on, but instead I'd like you to close your eyes, for just a moment, and relive the experience you've had that you loved most. Once that's done, thank your body for allowing you to have that experience. And keep this attitude of gratitude any time you go to critique yourself.
Sending love and light to guide your way.
SB xo
Ah humans... how we complicated, well, everything. Everything is simple if you can see the beauty and perfection in it, however this is rarely the path we choose. We scrutinize, analyze, criticize and other "izes" things to death and it strips us of the purity of just BEING in the moment.
If we look hard enough (and sadly, we often do) we can find flaws in anything. Look at half the magazine covers next time you're in the grocery store check out. Half will be dedicated to idolizing celebrity, and the other half will be dedicated to finding something wrong with them (debauchery, scandal, CELLULITE).
Then you have the terrible small talk topic: the weather. It's raining, it's snowing, it's too cold, too hot, too SOMETHING. Except that what if, it's exactly as it's supposed to be? Because it is. What if what we need is a change in perspective? Perhaps it's not too cold, but an excuse to wear that cute scarf? What if instead of seeing the rain, you see the opportunity to share an umbrella with someone special? Do you see where I'm going with this?
Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we fixate on the "bad" and miss out on the opportunity that exists behind every experience. Experience... something we would not have the blessed to have if it weren't for the bodies we were born into. The same bodies we pick apart and criticize as well. And we identify with these bodies, so when we attack them with our words and thoughts we attack ourselves because we have yet to see the difference. Without these bodies, too tall, too skinny, too short, too fat, too whatever, we wouldn't be able to witness a sunset. Feel a warm breeze caresse our skin. Smell freshly baked bread. Soak in a hot bath. I could go on, but instead I'd like you to close your eyes, for just a moment, and relive the experience you've had that you loved most. Once that's done, thank your body for allowing you to have that experience. And keep this attitude of gratitude any time you go to critique yourself.
Sending love and light to guide your way.
SB xo
Thursday, April 15, 2010
QotD
Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny--he has something to fulfill, some message has to be delivered, some work has to be completed. You are not here accidentally--you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The whole intends to do something through you. – Osho
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Quote!
By forgiving and choosing to move on, one takes the power back to morph it into positive energy. - Eugenia Triputti
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Quote!
People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering. – St. Augustine
Sunday, April 11, 2010
QotD
Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your 'here and now' intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally. -Eckhart Tolle
Tick Tock...
Today I lost an old friend...
But if I'm entirely honest, I lost him years ago. We drifted apart when we were still teens, and even though our paths have crossed twice since, it has never been the same. Still, I feel a heaviness in my heart, sadness, guilt, regret... I feel like I wasn't a good friend, that I let us drift, that I didn't try to sort out the weirdness between us. We are left feeling like we're guilty of something, full of "coulda" "woulda" "shouldas".... We cannot change the past. The only thing we can change is this second, this moment, this instant.
We can't undo the things we've done, we can only move forward, striving for better. Life is short. So right now - with time ticking - what is the one thing you want to change? Because know this: you have the power to do it.
Seena Beana
But if I'm entirely honest, I lost him years ago. We drifted apart when we were still teens, and even though our paths have crossed twice since, it has never been the same. Still, I feel a heaviness in my heart, sadness, guilt, regret... I feel like I wasn't a good friend, that I let us drift, that I didn't try to sort out the weirdness between us. We are left feeling like we're guilty of something, full of "coulda" "woulda" "shouldas".... We cannot change the past. The only thing we can change is this second, this moment, this instant.
We can't undo the things we've done, we can only move forward, striving for better. Life is short. So right now - with time ticking - what is the one thing you want to change? Because know this: you have the power to do it.
Seena Beana
Friday, April 9, 2010
Today's Quote
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. – Dalai Lama
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Today's Quote
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. – Wayne Dyer
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
QotD
Healing does not mean going back to the way things were before, but rather allowing what is now to move us closer to God. – Ram Dass
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
QotD
The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. - Allan K. Chalmers
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Twitter!
I'm on Twitter now! Truthfully, I thought I'd never see the day, however between needing to learn about it for work, and seeing it as a great opportunity to get the word out, I caved. :)
So look me up! http://www.twitter.com/seenabeana
So look me up! http://www.twitter.com/seenabeana
Live for Yourself, Love Yourself
Today's blog is as much for my benefit as anyone else's... You know that expression, I think it's from Eleanor Roosevelt that says "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission"? The same goes for feeling good about yourself. I've said before that everything we need is within us, and we need to find it there, instead of somewhere on the outside.
That being said, some of us have a tendency to sacrifice, put ourselves last, and we make ourselves our lowest priority. I know this can happen a lot when we become parents, and our children should for sure become priorities, but we need to not lose sight of our identities beyond our child's parent. As well the same can occurr withing friendships and relationships. And if these end, we lose sight of who we are, as we cease to exist beyond being half a couple.
When we don't make ourselves a priority, we give others permission to do the same. We need to know our value, and accept nothing less. Every individual on this planet has value, and so many of us lose sight of our own, and this is sad. Because if we can't find a way to hold ourselves with high esteem, how can anyone else? (And how can we accept anyone else holding us in that esteem, when we see it as foreign, and therefore not to be trusted.) This brings us back to Eleanor's quote... When we don't feel good about ourselves, we attract others who will reinfoce these thoughts, which perpetuates the bad feeling we're carrying. But if we can begin to heal ourselves, we can start attracting healthier friendships, relationships, etc and this will perpetuate the good feelings we have. And when we feel bad, if we bring about someone good into our life, it's important not to think they're wrong for liking us, but accept that maybe they see something we don't at that time... and strive to see it too.
If we live our life for ourselves, and not constantly sacrificing for others, we do ourselves justice. (A novel concept, I know!) :) We make ourselves a priority, and we do things we want to do. We eat things we want to eat. We hold ourselves as important in our life, and we project that to the world. And don't let the dark voice in your head fool you: you ARE important. So treat yourself as such.
Sending a ton of love your way (and some love to help you love yourself too!)
Seena Beana xoxo
That being said, some of us have a tendency to sacrifice, put ourselves last, and we make ourselves our lowest priority. I know this can happen a lot when we become parents, and our children should for sure become priorities, but we need to not lose sight of our identities beyond our child's parent. As well the same can occurr withing friendships and relationships. And if these end, we lose sight of who we are, as we cease to exist beyond being half a couple.
When we don't make ourselves a priority, we give others permission to do the same. We need to know our value, and accept nothing less. Every individual on this planet has value, and so many of us lose sight of our own, and this is sad. Because if we can't find a way to hold ourselves with high esteem, how can anyone else? (And how can we accept anyone else holding us in that esteem, when we see it as foreign, and therefore not to be trusted.) This brings us back to Eleanor's quote... When we don't feel good about ourselves, we attract others who will reinfoce these thoughts, which perpetuates the bad feeling we're carrying. But if we can begin to heal ourselves, we can start attracting healthier friendships, relationships, etc and this will perpetuate the good feelings we have. And when we feel bad, if we bring about someone good into our life, it's important not to think they're wrong for liking us, but accept that maybe they see something we don't at that time... and strive to see it too.
If we live our life for ourselves, and not constantly sacrificing for others, we do ourselves justice. (A novel concept, I know!) :) We make ourselves a priority, and we do things we want to do. We eat things we want to eat. We hold ourselves as important in our life, and we project that to the world. And don't let the dark voice in your head fool you: you ARE important. So treat yourself as such.
Sending a ton of love your way (and some love to help you love yourself too!)
Seena Beana xoxo
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