Challenge Update • Day 11
December 11, 2020
Challenge Check-In Day #18
December 18, 2020
Dear fellow traveler in the Challenge,
Let’s finish the challenge with a week of inspiration and heart-filling practices.
In this final week, we are completing the three-piece puzzle of mindfulness by considering the role of attitude in our practice and our lives.
We make meaning in our lives by being purposeful: forming intentions and giving energy to them (attention). But whether we come with curiosity, compassion, judgement, indifference or love, the outcome of our actions will not be the same. We may be able to do something a handful of times halfheartedly, but without the motivation of a supportive attitude, sustaining our efforts is near to impossible.
Attitude is what you bring along with you; it’s the sum of the heart-based qualities that, when attuned skillfully, make our efforts fulfilling and easeful.
But is our attitude something we can change? Or is it an expression of the ingredients present in our life, something we experience but can’t control?
I know when my attitude is good, I feel a greater responsibility towards the quality of the attitude itself. I feel “in charge” of my experience, and confident that I can deal with what’s to come. But when it’s “bad”, I feel helpless… maybe I’ve had a poor night’s sleep, or received an email that changed the tone of the day. I can point blame at something that has caused the attitude to be what it is, and I just have to get through it. Maybe this is something you can relate to too.
But like most things in life, the relationship between cause and effect is not linear. With practice (intention and attention), we affect the conditions that make up our experience. And in the next iteration, whether it be a conversation, contemplation or movement, the cycle has shifted towards a different outcome.
Our attitude, whether favourable or less so, is something that we are affected by, but also something we can influence, through direct and indirect practices. This is what we’re going to work with together this week. Check out our video introducing the practices of the week, and our first meditation.
With warmth and gratitude,
Karen and Chris
What Do You Bring?
Challenge Vlog for Week Three
This week we work with attitude: recognizing what we bring to a situation and cultivating skillful attitudes (3 mins)
Meditation Video #5 • Boundless Heart
Compassion is the alignment of our mind, bodies and heart with someone, something, our ourselves when there is suffering, and to do so without discrimination. In this meditation, we become grounded in our bodies, clear in our mind, open in our heart and engaged in our capacity to be compassionate.
The next meditation comes your way on Friday December 18th.
Join the Facebook Challenge Group
Here we can talk about the Challenge, and share inspiration and insights.
Check out the Challenge Dashboard
The Challenge Dashboard is your challenge tracker, to see your progress and that of your co-challengers, and register for classes and special events. Your name appears by a chosen “nickname”, which you can customize. You can also opt-out of the challenge board.
