Find Joy, Ease and Freedom on the Meditation Playground

When is the last time you visited a playground?

If you’re a parent or grandparent, probably not so long ago.

If it’s been a while, I invite you to take an adventure to the nearest playground today.

Why?

Joy, Ease and Freedom await you.

When you arrive, pause.

Take in a long, slow inhale and exhale.

Now...

What do you see?

What do you hear?

Kids scurrying around, ecstatic and unleashed.

Screaming, crying, laughing.

Falling, climbing, pushing, pulling.

What's all that ruckus about?

Joy, Ease and Freedom.

Joy of movement. Ease of mind. Freedom of choice.

Want some of that? I do! But I’m not 6 years old anymore.

How can we find joy, ease and freedom every day?

Meditation. No, really?!

The supposed path of meditation

I used to think meditation had to be tediously structured.

Sit painfully still.

Follow strict instructions.

Paste your attention to your breath, a mantra or a focal point.

And it had to last at least 20 minutes or it was no good.

Admittedly, the structured route got me started with my meditation practice. I felt like I need a guide to show me how to keep from getting lost in the chaos of my mind.

I followed a straight and narrow, guided meditation practice for a while. Until I gave up. I quit.

I dropped off the path after a self-imposed 40-day challenge where I increased my sitting time 1 minute every day till I hit 50 minutes. Why would anyone want to do that? Because if a little is good, more is better, right? And who doesn't want to be the best mediator around?

Truth: That practice felt like a chore, like I was being forced to do it, like a bully on the playground was forcing me to do it. Turns out...that bully was me.

Can you relate?

After the bully “challenge” was over, days turned into weeks. Months passed. No meditation. And the effects were obvious. My short fuse lit up almost everyday. My mind swung rapidly between electrified and total shutdown. My fidgety nature was on high speed. So clearly the 40-day challenge did offer some benefits. Only I didn’t realize them until I stopped.

How did I find my way back to meditation?

I chose a different path, one that is filled with joy, ease and freedom.

I call it the Meditation Playground.

Want to join me?

Meditation doesn’t have to be so arduous. In fact you don’t even have to call it meditation. How about Sitting in Silence?

Before I go any further, I must tell you that I’m not a trained meditation teacher. I greatly respect the depth of wisdom that scholarly teachers offer. I hope find and study with a teacher who will guide me to expand my practice, deepen my understanding and connection with the limitless gifts of the meditation.

So, if you’ve been meditating for years, this post may not be for you.

But, If you’re relatively new to the practice, you’ve slipped away for a bit, or you’re looking to spice up your practice, keep reading. Why not try something different? It could be fun!

Here We Go off to The Meditation Playground!

You can do this practice at an actual playground. I highly recommend that! Or you can tap into your imagination, sitting on a chair or blanket in the privacy of your home. The idea is to invite a playful nature into your practice. You may just find Joy, Ease and Freedom!

• Pause. take in a long, slow inhale and exhale.
• Keep your eyes open or closed.
• What do you see?
• What feels inviting?
• Go easy.
• Follow your desires.

Here’s some delights and obstacles you might encounter and how you can find joy, ease and freedom in your practice. 

Swings- Oh Joy! You’ll go through highs and lows during your practice. You feel like your floating and you’ll feel like you need to pump harder. Can you let go of the effort and entertain an effortless feeling? Come back to your breath and feel the natural flow that happens without any effort. That’s joy!







Sandbox - Sweet Freedom! You can build whatever you want- a mud pie, an alligator, or a castle with deluxe hot tub. Be creative. If you get frustrated and it's not looking good, pause put your hands on your legs and come back to your breath. Ah..freedom.

Merry go round - Ease does it! Your mind will start spinning. Guess what? That’s what the mind does! As you would on a real merry go round, sit still while the mindful merry go round spins. Find a steady focal point, eyes closed or open. If you get dizzy or a little disoriented, you can step off. Come back to your breath. There’s ease.

Each time you visit the meditation playground, you will likely meet all of these delights and obstacles. The adventures are limitless. Allow your mind to flow. If you feel lost or overwhelmed, simply come back to the breath.

Wait...before you leave, grab a seat on the park bench.

Take a minute to sit with the wise old soul who’s been watching you the whole time.

That soul is you. That soul is the witness. The one who sees all and doesn’t judge - she takes it in and knows the joy, freedom and ease that is within you. She is waiting for you. Ahh...now you’ve made contact with the fulfilling essence of meditation. You’ve met yourself.

Some might argue this is not really a meditation practice. Great! Then, it’s not for you. But for me, meditation, or sitting in silence is a practice that brings joy, freedom and ease to my mind, body and spirit.

You’ll notice that I didn’t specify a time for this practice. Let it be whatever you want. That could be a minute, 5, 10 or 15. Set a timer if you need to. Try to drop the restrictions and try to enjoy!

Inspiration to Action: Simple Steps to Enjoy Vibrant Wellbeing

1. Visit a playground this week (in reality or in your mind).
2. Observe the scene with all your senses.
3. Take a seat on the park bench. 
4. Welcome in a deep breath.
5. Maybe, you’ll feel compelled to close your eyes for a minute.
6. Feel Joy, Ease and Freedom flow through you.
7. Want more inspiration? 

I believe everyone can enjoy vibrant wellbeing.

I believe self-care is at the heart of Wellbeing.

I believe I can inspire you to take care of yourself.

Connect with me at kristen@seeyourwellbeing.com. Let me know what you are looking for.

I Choose Self-Care

How did you feel when you woke up this morning?

Don’t hold back. Truth time. How did you feel?

Me...I’d say 7.5 out of 10.  My nose was clogged, my eyes were puffy, my mind was a bit foggy, my spirit was dull. I didn’t want to get out of bed. Why?

I’m embarrassed to say. But I’ll be honest. I drank one or 2 or 3 too many glasses of wine, ate dinner at 8:00 pm...2 hours later than usual and I pushed my physical limits a bit too far...damn that Fitbit goal!

Sound like a confessional? It is. This indulgent routine has been going on for about a week.  I’ve fallen backwards into an old, outdated rhythm. And it’s not a happy rhythm.

I know better. I mean I’m a health coach for Pete’s sake! But I’m human. I’m not perfect. I’ve never claimed, nor will I ever, abstinence from drinking wine, eating after 6 pm, or intense physical activity.

I know better. If only I had more will power. But sometimes knowledge and will power don’t translate into “right” action. The strength of an old pattern can crush intellect and motivation in a split second.

So what will it take for me to connect with a happy rhythm? I can see that I have choices.

Today I have choices.

• I choose to keep humming that discontented rhythm and say I’ll start fresh next week.
• I choose to criticize myself for slipping out of a healthy groove and feel even worse.
• I choose to care for myself and make time to nourish, move, rest, connect and soothe.

Which option would you pick? I’m going with the last one. Today.

Everyday we make many choices that influence how we feel. In the moment, the next day or years later. Do you want to feel stuffed up, disconnected, unfocused, low on energy? Me neither.

It’s not always easy to make the “right” choices. But it doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it, either. Another confession...that’s my default- making things harder than they need to be.

You can start with a simple choice to say: “I choose to care for myself”. Sure, there are many ways to care for yourself. That’s what my self-care program is all about. But no need to get overwhelmed with options now. We can explore those another day.

Keep it simple. When potent choice points pop up and... you know what those are, simply express: “I choose to care for myself”. See what happens. I bet you’ll be surprised how this simple expression translates into acts of self-care.

I believe that everyone deserves to be cared for. AND it starts with caring for yourself.

I believe in you.

I want to inspire you to care of yourself.

Are you ready to live a more Sensational Expressive and Engaged life?

It’s time for you to S.E.E. Your Wellbeing.

Let’s connect.

Apply for a FREE coaching session today!

Together we will explore:

WHY you want to change

HOW you can get started right away &

WHAT you will experience as you prioritize your self-care.

In Support of Your Vibrant Wellbeing,

Kristen

kristen@seeyourwellbeing.com

Enjoy Yourself to that One

When is the last time you experienced joy? A few minutes ago. A few hours ago. A few days ago. You don't remember? The yoga tradition tells us that joy is our natural state of being. Joy is present within us at any moment. We can light up with joy whenever we choose. Do you believe this?

If you're grief-stricken or mourning, you may have lost sight of your true joyful nature.

The holiday season is supposed to be full of joy, right? Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. Joy to the World! Yet, if you are suffering from a loss of a loved one or you’ve lost a part of yourself, you feel disconnected. You feel alone. Your joy light may be temporarily burned out. You’re in the dark. I get it. We've all been in those dim places.

When the joy lights go out, it’s tempting to look for a quick spark - a piece of chocolate, an intense workout, a favorite song, a hug, a call to a friend. And in some cases that may be exactly what you need. But how do we keep our joy glowing rather than just flickering every now and then?

First, no matter what's going on, you've got to believe in your inner joy. It’s in you and it is sustainable. How do you become a believer? No, not just because I said so. Because you've felt it before. You know it's true.

Think of a time when you felt lit up from the inside. When have you radiated joy for more than a passing moment?

Try to recall a fond holiday memory.

The holidays weren’t always dark. Let’s hope.

Last week, I shared one of my seasonal favorites, touring holiday lights. "Enjoy yourself to that one". That's what my mom would say as we toured the holiday light displays. The ones with blow up figures staggering, lights flashing, music blaring, sent my nervous system on overdrive. I cherished the simple ones- white lights, strung delicately with care.

These made me smile from the inside.

When our joy light goes out, reflecting on fond memories can turn us on for a bit. Though if we want to sustain the glow, a daily joy practice is the next step. Instead of searching for bursts of high intensity joy once or twice a day, delight in small, frequent, repetitive moments of joy to keep your light on.

Here are some of my favorite "Enjoy yourself to that one" practices. Try 1 or 2, or create your own.

1. Upon waking, sit or lay in silence for 1 minute
2. When your feet touch the earth, offer an expression of delight for the day ahead.
3. After you brush your teeth, flash yourself a sparkly smile.
4. Before breakfast, take 3 deep breaths, preparing your body to receive your food.
5. When you leave home for the day, spread your arms wide and take in the expansive sky.
6. Before you turn on your computer for the day, silently say, "Joy is my way".
7. Between 2-6 pm, step outside, kneel down and touch the ground.
8. After dinner, hug, call, email or text someone who makes you glow.
9. Before you get into bed, take 1 minute to reflect on a blissful moment in your day.
10. Right after you lie down, take 5 deep "ah" breaths. Sweet dreams.

Want to post these in your home, car, office? Click for here for your FREE joy card!

Can you imagine what would happen if you enjoyed this sequence every day? Would your spirit be more blissful?

I would love to hear from you after a week of enjoyable moments.

Let's connect and enjoy each other: kristen@seeyourwellbeing.com

The Story of the Three Wise Women

What are some of your favorite holiday memories? Some of mine: inspirational walks in the snow with my dad, touring holiday light displays and baking holiday cookies with my mom and spending time with relatives. Holiday stories are particularly memorable.

Do you remember the story of the three wise men? As with all stories, there are many unique versions. The Cliff's Notes, former Catholic girl, version goes something like this: three wise men travelled afar to bring gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to honor the birth of Jesus. Amen. Now that would be my kind of church service, short and sweet!

Stories, especially ones that you create, are powerful sources of transformation. In my quest to become the kind of woman who lives a sensational, engaged and expressive life, I want to tell you the story of the Three Wise Women.

There once was a little girl who was full of light, energy and bravery. She excelled in school and committed herself to earning the praise and approval of others. As she entered her adult years, she began to feel lost and uncertain on her path.

She was fiercely trekking on a path towards "Supposed-To-Ville" when she fell down a deep hole. She hid in that hole for years, disconnected from herself and the world. Her light dimmed. Her energy diminished. Her bravery disappeared. She didn't like who she had become but she didn't know how to reconnect with her youthful spark.

One fateful night, she was visited by The Three Wise Women. Jan, the girl's aunt, was a whip smart, straight shooter. She lost her arm in her youth but overcame this handicap and devoted her life to serve the disabled and disadvantaged. Margaret, the girl's grandmother, was a fiercely independent pioneer. She was the first female principle of the Michigan School of Blind and retired to become a world traveler. Nancy, the girl's mother, is an extraordinarily efficient, open-hearted, and creatively brilliant evolutionary woman. She was a life-skills educator who retired in her early 50s to nurture her talents in stained-glass making, quilting, and golfing.

The Three Wise Women offered the girl gifts of passion, intuition and courage. They told her: "These gifts have been within you, your whole life. It is now time that you get off your butt, open your heart and step into your light!" The girl jumped up, spread her arms wide and soared out of that hole. And now, here she is! She is me. I am that passionate, intuitive and courageous woman!

Have you fallen down a hole? Has your light dimmed? Have you lost connection with your greatest gifts? I want to inspire you to reconnect your gifts and live the life you've dreamed of.

Your journey begins by giving yourself the care and attention you deserve. You can do this by taking small steps to align with the rhythm of nature. Why will that help? Nature is the wisest woman of all!

If you want to learn how to connect with your abundant gifts and align with nature, open up my free gift to you: Simple Seasonal Tips to Help you THRIVE! Commit to one action step every day.

When you are ready for the next step, raise your hand!  I’ve got something else for you: A Free Coaching Session. Get on my calendar Today! I will help you get clear on your desires, reignite your energy and offer you specific action steps to THRIVE!

Today I will leave you with the refrain from the song of the tale of the Three Wise Men “We Three Kings”:

O star of wonder, star of night,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect light.

Your light wants to be ignited! Where will you find your spark?

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Rise and shine it’s wake up time and why not start the day with a holiday rhyme?

You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list

He's checking it twice;

He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

An all time classic, for sure! So...Which list are you on?

Not So Nice List (Naughty seems a bit extreme)

• Joint Pain Judy
• Hung over Hector
• Constipated Connie
• Anxious Annie
• Depressed Danny
• Migraines Mary
• Congested Chester
• Sedentary Sally

Nice List

• Pain free Patty
• Clear-headed Chris
• Pooping Champ Paula
• Calm Cool Carrie
• Upbeat Umberto
• Vibrant Victoria
• Breathe Right Benjamin
• Active Adam

Be honest... Will Santa be visiting you this year? This may be a harsh wake up call for some of you. It was for me!  I was waking up on Santa’s Not So Nice list almost everyday for years. I was in denial. I didn’t want to admit that although I appeared healthy and fit, my body and mind were suffering. I was in a self-perpetuating cycle of pushing my body to the limits, eating too often, drinking more than I wanted to admit, and getting sucked into anxious mind spiral on a daily basis. Can you relate?

I knew I needed to make some changes but I was resistant. Where would I start? I didn’t want to back off my exercise, give up snacks or wine and there was no way I could sit still with my mind. All of which I knew would help but my resistance and rigid routines were stronger. I had a few physical red alerts like broken toes, bruised ribs, and a mild open head wound. Yet, none of these alerts were serious enough.

I needed support, structure, inspiration, community. I needed to connect with people who knew what I was feeling, who wanted to expand beyond their limits and who wouldn't reject me for who I had been. I wanted to feel and be seen for who I was becoming. Where did I go? I was drawn to a community of thrive seekers, Body Thrive, to be exact.

Body Thrive is a supportive, structured, inspiration, community-oriented program, led by a modern Ayurvedic guru, Cate Stillman. Exactly what I was looking for! Cate leads groups of thrive seekers through a journey, exploring and practicing 10 daily self-care habits that transform how we live in our bodies, minds and spirits. Some of the self-care habits include the time when you eat dinner, when you go to bed, how you start your day, and how you move your body. These self-care habits rooted in the 5,000 year old science of Ayurveda, which is simply our life-giving connection with nature.

I joined the Body Thrive program with another intention. I want to help others thrive. I have been given so much in my life and now it is time to give back, serving others. I hear whispers from my grandmother from time to time: “Krissie, this knowledge, these practices must be shared! You have to do this work”.

After my 12-week transformational journey in Body Thrive, I entered the Yoga Health Coaching community. I honed my skills and polished my passion to develop my own program:  S.E.E. Your Wellbeing. S.E.E. stands for Sense, Engage, and Express.

I’ve spent 20 years in the field of weight management research helping develop and deliver programs that are primarily focused on results - weight loss, increased physical activity, improved body composition, blood pressure reduction, improved cholesterol profile, etc. Don’t get me wrong, these results are important to your health and wellbeing. But there is also tremendous value and pleasure to be experienced in the whole wellbeing journey. Members of my S.E.E. Your Wellbeing program embark on a discovery process sensing their wellbeing potential, engaging in self-care practices, and expressing an improved quality of life.

If your holiday wish is to wake up on Santa's nice list, every day, I want to help. Wouldn't it be incredible to greet the each day feeling refreshed, well-rested, energetic, clear headed, joyful and curious about each day ahead? It's possible and I can help you!

In this season of giving, I’ll be offering you some free gifts to help you navigate the holiday season with ease. The first gift is the most spectacular: A Free Holiday Wellbeing Coaching Session! This is a rare opportunity for you to consider and express how deeply you want to feel well. At the end of our session, I’ll send you on an adventure to explore one simple habit that will help you move you in the direction of your wellbeing desires.This priceless gift is one that will keep on giving. Go ahead, contact me and gift yourself the wellbeing you are dreaming of!

Sign up for your FREE

Holiday Wellbeing Coaching Session here.

I'll leave you with a quote that has sparked my soul to lean into my potential for living a more Sensational, Engaged, Expressive life:

“When you are no longer willing to identify with the part of you that is separating itself into a million pieces, you are ready for real growth”.

~Michael Singer~

Are you ready to put yourself back together again?

Are you for real growth?

Yes and Yes!

Contact me today!