Cycling for a Cause: Blue Ridge Parkway September 13-22

Tomorrow, we drive up to start of the Blue Ridge Parkway to begin the 10 day Cycling for a Cause Event. My husband Cristof and our friend Phil will be navigating all 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway and raise funds for a good causes. I will be in the support car with supplies and equipment. 

Ever since we moved to Asheville, NC, it has been a dream for Cristof to ride the Blue Ridge Mountains all the way through. And now we stand at the threshold of this dream becoming a reality. Today, we pack all the supplies and get a good night's rest before we head up north.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. Much love to you. Come back to this blog for more reports from the road. And check out Cristof's blog here:  http://cyclingtheblueridgeparkway.blogspot.com/

Much Love,

Sophia

Simplicity and Clarity

Today, the intention is to access clarity and simplicity.

I intend today to experience clarity so that I may see through the opacity and be in touch with the essence of life. I intend to experience simplicity so that all that is most important to me stays in focus.

Thank you Clarity and Simplicity for gracing our lives.

Trust in the Flow

Today's Intention is to Trust in the Flow.

Allow yourself to follow the flow and trust in its innate intelligence. Trust in your own wisdom as you recognize the movement and rhythms of life. Know that all is fine. Know that all is well.

Thank you Flow for flowing through us.

Finding the Stillpoint with Tolle's Stillness Speaks

Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle.

The book, Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle points clearly, ways to freedom: awareness, acceptance, just being.

I learnt that simply becoming aware is a liberating experience. Becoming aware of the thoughts. Becoming aware of the space in which the moment happens. And becoming aware of the now. Right now is all there is. The past happens in the now. The future happens in the now. So this moment is simply to be experienced. And bringing acceptance adn awareness to that experience is what deepens the space in which all this happens.

Written with crystal clarity, this book brings deep insight, helping us to free our minds from the habitual ego-mind and to bring compassion towards ourselves and towards others for being in the graps of the ego. It also sheds light on the beauty of surrender: surrendering to the present moment.

The messages in this book are presented in short nuggets of wisdom, written in short paragraphs. I loved this style as it allowed me to reflect on the points presented here after each paragraph. The questions that Eckhart asks throughout the text is a wonderful launching pad of my own introspection. For instance, on page 28, he asks:

Can you see that this "I" is fleeting, a temporary function, like a wave pattern on the surface of the water?

The "I" he is referring to is the identity of the self derived from the ego: name, occupation, gender, our life stories. All of the external ways of identifying ourselves refer to the form, the body, not the formless that is within each of us. And this formless I Am is eternal, Echkart states. This is the I AM that you are. Beyond all the classifications, titles, labels and names of all sorts, you are limitless, unbounded, and infinite.

This kind of reflective question reveals something within me that is beyond words and concepts. It seems paradoxical that in thinking about these insights brings me to a space within that is beyond thoughts. In this way, the thoughts serve beautifully in enabling the experience of peace and stillness that rises from beyond the thinking and the thoughts.

This book was introduced to me by Oprah in one of her conversations with Eckhart. It is a book that he wrote before, A New Earth which for me laid a wonderful foundation for reading Stillness Speaks and made the material easily graspable for me in my mind as well as in my heart.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel at peace and find ways to connect with oneself and with the space within us in a deep, full way. It is a truly life-enhancing book.

Love,

Sophia

Experience the Moment

Today, the intention is to experience the moment.

Let us recognize the moment as the space within which LIFE happens. Connect with the vast depths of awareness within a single moment. Become conscious of the infinite and the eternal within this moment.

Thank you Moment for the depth of your wisdom within us.

Recognize the Stillness

Today's intention is to Recognize the Stillness Within.

Today, remember that who you are is beyond all the things, the relationships and all the concepts you have about yourself. Take a moment to be still and get in touch with the deep stillness that is within you...that is you. Let go of the rest.

Thank you Stillness for your depth and wisdom.

PS: If you are like me, you may find yourself clinging to something or some idea at times. Just acknowledge that and know that it is part of the process of letting go. Remain kind to yourself.

Learning to Let Go.

This is a theme that I have touched upon in the Sunday Reflections before. Perhaps, I wrote from a more intellectual level than an emotional one. What I am currently going through, is exactly what needs to happen for a letting go on a deeper, emotional, heart level. I hesistated to write about this last week as it is something that makes me feel very vulnerable. Well, then I thought, this blog has always carried something very personal and in sharing my vulnerability, I have felt stronger in my heart. So here it is:

Many of you may know about a cat called Orlando who came to live with us last December. I have often remarked that he chose us, not the other way around. (Here is the video blog I made about his coming into our life last December). So, he became a member of our family and for the last seven months we were connecting and getting to know each other.

I believe that Life gives you exactly what you need to experience at the right time in order for you to grow and evolve. Right now, the lesson for me is to be in the present moment and let go. One of my teachers on this path is Eckhart Tolle and he describes in his book, A New Earth, how our ego-mind looks at the external world for its sense of self. Personal identity, career, physical possessions, relationships and our own physical body all play into the image from where the ego derives its identification. And unknowingly, we all fall into that trap. We mis-judge ourselves by equating our profession or our status and personal history as who we are are. Tolle reminds me that who we are is deeper than all the externals. It is the space within us, the unbounded consciousness that is always still and profound.

Recently, I experienced something that deeply challenged my sense of self and identification. I was becoming very much enchanted by my cat who is independent and wild, exploring the jungles nearby at the same time, spending time in the park with me as I lay on the grass to read a book. He would just sit next to me and relax while I enjoyed the sun. Well, recently, the cat who had chosen us as his care-givers, decided to move on into the wild. It has been two weeks now since he walked into the forests and we have not seen him since. When I realized that he was not here anymore, I fell into deep sadness. When I realized that crying my eyes out was not helping the situation, I printed up posters and called up vets and searched online lost and found websites for missing pets. I rallied the neighbors, knocking on their doors asking if they had seen Orlando and when some said yes, it boosted up my hope and joy and anticipation about seeing Orlando again.

During all this time, I also shifted deeply into the present moment. I would focus on whatever I was doing and became one with it. It was during these moments that I felt serene and at peace. Almost a dramatic change from the deep sorrow I felt over Orlando's disappearance. I remembered the good moments that we shared and remembered how we communicated with each other. When I was sad about him not being here, it was my ego-mind clinging to the external world. I had identified so much with having a cat and taking care of cat. It had become part of my life. And when he was gone, my sense of self seemed to have eroded. I wanted to have that fluffy, furry cuteness living with me, a gorgeous cat who had made his home in my heart. And now, he was not here any more. This just became a source of pain and sorrow, something many of you can relate with, perhaps when you too lost something or someone or felt empty and wanted a certain outcome.

This has been a real lesson for me in letting go. I have to let go of the need of having Orlando here physically. I must come to terms with the situation and accept it first. There have been moments for me where I have felt a sense of peace and then I have fluctuated back in wanting the lovely being back with me. And this back and forth is getting less turbulent as I find myself shifting in greater acceptance and even celebration. Celebration of the fact that Orlando has alive in him a wild nature, an adventurous spirit, and an unlimited amount of cuteness that can melt anyone's heart. I am so confident that he can survive and even thrive on his own, that it is another source of relief. And above all, I greatly appreciate the gifts he has give us and continues to give us, in his physical absence. He has been a great teacher and thus a guru in his own right. I have learnt to have faith, to take conscious actions, be in the present moment, act from a place of love, shift into gratitude mode and also to embrace the pain I feel by letting it be. Most of all, he has taught me to let go of the egoic clinging to the past, to external sources of identification and open up to the truth, beauty and wisdom that lies in the stillness within me.

Thank you, Orlando.

Love,

Sophia

Be Inspired From Within.

Today's intention is to Be Inspired From Within.

Today, get inspired from within. Become aware of any hints and nudges that you receive to do something that comes from your truth and your inner beauty. Follow the sign and feel the joy in honoring your inner wisdom.

Thank you Inspiration from Within for lighting up the pathways.

PS: How do you know whether your idea is an inspiration from within? If it feels good to you and brings goodness to everyone, you know you are on the right path.

Inspiration From Within

A couple of days ago, I went into the mountains really early. I woke up at 3:45. Made some Chai-tea. Left home at 4:30am and was on top of the Blue Ridge at 5 am. When I arrived, everything was quite. The moon was shining. Yet, there was no sound. No crickets, no owls. Not a leaf moving in the breeze; no small animal walking on the grass. Nothing. It felt to me as if I was in an auditorium just before a concert is about to start. I am arriving and taking my seat. The musicians are in the back already, present way before me and will initiate their song at any moment now. 

Then, as I was breathing with quiet anticipation, one bird began a little chirp. Then silence. Then she did that again, to which another bird responded. Then a pause. The first one sang again. And now these two birds were having a conversation. A new bird with a new sound joined in. Then another. Then another. And another. Until there was a whole symphonic melody going with finely timed interjections from one bird and then another. It was a musical harmony of the highest sort.

I sat there with my eyes closed. Listening deeply to their song. It filled me up with joy. I felt refueled, rejuvenated and uplifted. Their song danced in my heart all day long. And the memory of the experience invites me to revisit the morning birds again. 

All this was inspired by my Dad who came to visit us this April and convinced us to wake up real early to go see the sunrise on the mountains. Recently, something called me to do what my Dad inspired us to do...to go into the mountains early morning. It was an inspiration from within that guided me and it felt really good to follow that nudge. 

Love,

Sophia

Uplifting Thoughts

Today's intention for the day is Uplifting Thoughts.

Today, reach for a single uplifting thought. When you become aware of lower vibrating thoughts, just think of something that brings you a smile. You have got to be the gatekeeper of the thoughts that enter the castle of your heart and mind. It is only about that one high-energy thought. Then, the next and the next until you come into a stream of uplifting, energizing, happy, positive thought patterns.

Thank you Uplifting Thoughts for giving us wings to fly.

PS: One suggestion is to think of someone who makes you smile always. Or reach out for some adorable animal babies which melt you in the most serious of moods. One of my favorite uplifting thought is that of gratitude. I write 5 things I am grateful for and the feeling of appreciation is just a very high-vibration feeling. Remember, this is not about suppressing your bad feelings and thoughts. It is a suggestion for how to change things around, once you acknowledge that you are experiencing those thoughts/feelings of lower frequency.

Conscious Action

Today's intention for the day is Conscious Action.

May we take each step today knowingly with conscious awareness. Each action we take matters and sets the tone for our life experience. Let your inner compass and truth guide you today at every moment.

Thank you Conscious Action for helping us stay on the path consciously.

PS: Allow for a moment of reflection before every step you take. Refrain from just doing without knowing why you are doing something in the big scheme of things. Take it one step at a time today.

Living Your Truest Life

What does it mean to be "in our dreams awake"? When I read this quote by Thoreau, I am reminded how critical it is to have a dream. A Big Dream, I might add! Even if one may think their time has gone, they are too old to dream or they are too young to make a dream happen, I think, A BIG DREAM is so essential. It is what keeps driving us to expand ourselves, grow out of our shells of comfort and dare to cross the river. It is the mighty flame that often remains alive as a tiny spark throughout our lives, until it is allowed to expand, grow and flourish in all its totality. And to those of you who think you are too old to dream, that is a statement that may be your comfort shell that you could grow out of, if you choose! 

No, it may not seem easy to do so. Giving birth and being born can be strenuous, time-consuming process. Yet, it is one of the most beautiful wonders of life. So, it may not feel easy or even fun to go through the process of engaging in your dream. You may even share your dream and may be you are encouraged to rethink your options. You may feel completely drained and exhausted from the current responsibilities of life and work and family and may not even be able to spare a moment to breathe. And that is exactly why, I encourage you to take time to reconsider how you are engaged in your life. What shackles are holding you down. What is preventing you from living your highest potential.

I myself have experienced such shackles. After giving it some thought, I can share with you some of my hurdles. For me, it is the fear of success. That is what it boils down to. Yes, success can be defined in as many ways as there are people. And one aspect of success for me is to live in the present moment fully. Another aspect of success for me is to be able to create in this world and contribute my talents and services for the betterment of our world, and living a financially abundant, prosperous life. And the fear that I have is that if I give my very very best, it will still not be good enough and I will not make it to where I want to be. And it is very interesting how this fear sneaks it lovely face at unexpected moments and sometimes out of nowhere, leaving me awe-struck.

I can imagine that if you have not already overcome your fears, you are also facing some nuanced version of a fear that underlines your actions. My first suggestion is to take time to notice what is driving the patterns in our life. Observe. Reflect and make notes. And then, take active steps to dismantle them.

You can ask yourself: What is this fear here to teach me? What message do I need to learn and transcend? And based on the answers that come, commit to taking 1 baby-step towards overcoming them. Yes, just 1 step. Do not worry about resolving the whole thing yet, because that can also be overwhelming. Just take that tiny action step which shows you what you would be doing if you do not have that fear. And this could even be the beginning of a rapid dissolving of this fear.

Thoreau says that "Our truest life is lived when we are in our dreams awake". I have had some tastes of what he may be referring to "our truest life". And I know that for us to constantly be living our truest life, we must live our dreams.

Love,

Sophia

PS: Share with us what your fears look like and how do you plan on taking an action step to dismantle this fear.  Share your comments below or on our Facebook Page!

Notice

Today's intention is to Notice.

Today, notice the Fear that underlines your behaviors and feelings. Just take a few minutes during your day and evaluate, assess, reflect on what are some of your shackles. And reflect on how you can break free from them.

Thank you Notice for showing us where to begin the release.

PS: Once you have a feeling about what your fear is/fears are, be grateful for having been able to identify them. Thank the Fears for serving you so far and acknowledge their contributions to your life. Then let your fears know that it is time to move on. Next, note down some action-steps that you can show to YOURSELF what you would do if you were not experiencing this fear. In other words, how would be behaving, feeling, acting if this fear was a non-issue? Make a list of such actions and commit to taking 1 action from this list.

Connect

The intention for today is Connect.

Today connect with someone. If possible gather around a gang of lovely people and just enjoy the Sunday afternoon. Or simply go out into nature and connect with yourself.

Thank you Connection for making the bonds strong.

PS: Connect with your deepest self is something that can prove to be a tremendous gift to you, with positive effects in all aspects of your life. Simply close your eyes and become aware of your breath. You will find your treasure there.

Celebrate

The intention for today is Celebrate.

Today celebrate the fact that you are alive and breathing this beautiful life through you. Flow into the river of gratitude for the joyous experience that is living. Give thanks and celebrate life today.

Thank you Celebration for reminding us to enjoy each moment.

PS: If you are going through a difficult time, come into a mode of gratitude for it, as you are in the middle of learning important life lessons which you will look back and appreciate deeply. And always know that you are given by life only that which you can overcome.

Release

The intention for today is Release.

Today, release anything that you do not need. May it be a thought pattern, a behavior, a feeling, let it go. Just asking the undesired element in you to dissolve can do wonders. But first, you need to acknowledge its presence.

Thank you Release for making us lighter.

PS: Everything you are experiencing has a message for you. Dig deeper and ask, "what do I need from this?" Open up to receive the answers. Then, let go of all that is not wanted. Love yourself for having that which you want to release.

Enjoy

The intention for today is Enjoy.

Today enjoy each moment of your day. Remember you have a choice in how you view your experiences. Reach for that which feels good and joyful.

Thank you Enjoy for enabling us to stay in joyous flow of life, love and laughter.

PS: You can help yourself enjoy the day by doing something that is fun, spending time with someone who always makes you laugh, or any of the 100 other ways!

Stroll

The intention for today is Stroll.

Take a stroll today. Go outside as soon as you can. There is a treasure waiting for you to find.

Thank you Stroll for giving us fresh air and insight.

PS: Take this Intention For Today as a reminder for connecting with nature, wherever you are, even if it means admiring a house plant. Give it your loving attention.

You Are Enough.

The Mind Chatter

The voices in the mind rage. Words strung into sentences float in the space of the mind. Words evoking emotions of imperfection, emotions of impatience, emotions of not having arrived. The deluge of these thoughts takes a toll. Waking up in the morning begins the flow. Going to bed at night pauses the flow. Then, you realise that this constant bombardment of notions is not really serving your highest good.

I remember times when the mental chatter was painful to the extent that it led to a consistent feeling of sadness, inner pain and lack of enthusiasm. For the smallest thing that I did or did not do, this strange inner voice would comment, criticise, complain and scold. Although, today the voice is not so loud and not so incessant, I still encounter moments where I am flashed with this bright stadium light of inner critique, harsh, cold and blinding light. Then it dissipates. I have then moments to breathe and live with a sense of relief.

I Am Enough

Today, I listened to a conversation by Hans King as he was being interviewed by Lisa Garr of The Aware Show. The conversation was full of highlights and insights that deeply resonated with me. Hans reminded us this undeniable truth: You are Enough. It resonated with my very core.

It resonated with me because to hear those words, "You are enough", felt like the chains had been dismantled, the pressure had been released and I was floating in a nebulous wave of relief and joy. He said, there is nothing you need to do, nowhere you need to go. When Lisa asked Hans, so how does our goal-setting and strategizing play into it, Hans replied that we can still do it all for the experience of it. Wow!!! We do all our goal setting, aiming for change, creating new things, making a difference, all for the EXPERIENCE of it. That feels really liberating. I don't have to do any of this. But I CHOOSE to do all of it; because I want to have the experience of the creating, transforming and changing. The pressure is off. The cage is open. The dams have been broken. The bird is set free. The river can flow freely.

Setting the Intention

Another insight that I take from the convesation is about setting Intention. Hans said that our intention matters the most, even more than our deeds. Each day, we can set an intention for ourselves, for our life and become clear about why we are doing something and for what purpose. Ultimately, he says our purpose is to be of service to one another. And that was so beautifully and profoundly said. I have often searched and enquired about my life's purpose. Through the introspection, I have become clear about my dream and my vision that I want to manifest in this lifetime. Yes, that is all there. Yet, when it comes down to it, the fundamental purpose of my life is to be of service. So there you have it. The confusion is dissolved. The mystery is demystified.

Ask and You Shall Receive

Many teachers of consciousness have spoken about this. When you need help, you ask for it. It is your responsibility to ask for guidance, to ask for help, says Hans. I know for myself that only recently have I come to understand this concept and I am learning to live it fully each day. To actively ask Life, the Universe, the Spirit Guides for help and guidance is something I have done only as a LAST RESORT! Yet, it is becoming more and more easy for me to ask, to request for help. This process of asking for help, also puts me in a state of gratitude. I become aware of the blessings that are in my life and how I am constantly being shown the path, and assisted along the way. The state of gratitude is what raises my vibration immediately. One of the most powerful ways of feeling good and living fully, for me, is to feel the emotion of gratitude and appreciation.

Thank you Hans King for so eloquently presenting these insights which have spoken straight to my heart. Your wisdom, your openness and your service to humanity is deeply appreciated. I thank you for taking the time and having the conversation with Lisa Garr.

I have been listening to Lisa Garr's show for some years now and I express my deep gratitude to her for her candid, authentic self as she poses the questions and shares her life on the show. She has a soothing, relaxing voice that reminds me of cozy afternoons with pillows and hot tea and loving friends chatting away about life and the Universe. Thank you for bringing to me rich, vibrant conversations with the Gurus and Teachers of our time who have committed their life to serving the expansion of human consciousness. Thank you, Lisa.

You can learn about Lisa's show here: The Aware Show. And you can learn about Hans King by exploring his website here.

A Mighty Flame follows a Tiny Spark. -Dante

There are areas in our lives that we all want to change or enhance. Often the desire is to make sweeping radical changes. For instance, if someone wants to loose weight they may go on an extreme diet. What I have come to realize lately is that often it is the small, tiny changes that go a long way. By changing one element of our life, no matter how small it may seem, we end up with massive alterations, especially when done with consistency. 

This is so true, I have found, in the case of how we look at things. When we tweak, ever so slightly, how we look at things, it can help us to live an even richer and harmonious life and can turn problems into life-enriching experiences. These are some of the ways we can turn things around:

-When there is a problem you encounter, see it as an opportunity for growth. This is the chance to practice your faith in yourself and in the knowing that life will not present to you anything that you cannot overcome.

-When there is any delay, in a traffic jam or waiting in a line, or anything else, think of it as a chance to practice your mindfulness. Noticing the moment, noticing the breath, or observing the people or the environment around you.

-When faced with something that angers you, see it as an invitation from life to release your anger and to let go of such emotions.

-When you become aware of something that you want to change within yourself, a habit for example, you can take that chance to feel grateful that you have the capacity to change yourself and to design a life you want. It is also an invitation for you to love and accept where you are in the journey and enjoy every moment of the journey you are on.

A mighty flame follows a tiny spark, says Dante. Let us take inspiration from that saying and each day feed the spark within us, so that we may become the flame that can show the way to others on the path.