The Joy Diet: Truth

"Create and absorb at least one moment of truth each day."

I'm running a week behind. The kids were here for a week and I'm now catching up with The Joy Diet by Martha Beck. Above is my vision card for Truth: out of the mouths of babes. Kids seem to hit the nail on the head. They come out with some of the truest statements I've ever heard. Beck says to have your moment of truth you must be able to spend 15 minutes in Nothingness. So I tossed in the Buddha and the Lotus for my Nothing.

On the back of the vision card I've written the steps to Truth.

1. Start with daily dose of Nothing
2. First question: What am I feeling?
3. What hurts?
4. What is the painful story I'm telling?
5. Can I be sure my own painful story is true?
6. Is my painful story working?
7. Can I think of another story that might work better?

Lastly: Of the options open to me, which one brings the most love into the world? Or, as Martha also says, "offer compassion to your inner lying scumbag"! Oh, how I love this!

No one said Truth would be easy, but I'm working on it. Have to admit I think I'm looking forward to the next step: Desire!

The Joy Diet: Nothing

Last week, the Next Chapter group, under the leadership of the wonderful Jamie Ridler, began reading The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices For a Happier Life by Martha Beck. Jamie suggested we make vision cards for each practice in the book. The first practice is Nothing and here is my vision card.

"To begin the Joy Diet, you must do nothing for at least fifteen minutes a day."

I was excited. This was something I could do! Something I used to do and for some reason (something I'll have to look into further) stopped doing. It was time to return to the "center of my being" and listen. Slow down. Tell my monkey mind TIME OUT!

I returned to one of my favorite authors and teachers, Thich Nhat Hanh and the book A Lifetime of Peace: Essential Writings by and About Thich Nhat Hanh. After greeting the morning and a new day, I began to count my breath. Breathe in and count one, breathe out and count one. Breathe in, two. Breathe out, two. Breathe and count to ten. If a thought comes along .. recognize it, send it away and start with one again. Each time count to ten. Counting attaches mindfulness to the breath. Soon I was reaching ten time and time again, without really realizing it. It was so nice to return to this form of meditation and nothingness.

This, however, is not enough for Thich Nhat Hanh. He believes you can "practice meditation when you walk, stand, lie down, sit, while washing your hands, washing the dishes, drinking tea, talking to friends or whatever you are doing". Whatever you are doing - it must be the most important thing. Be mindful.

I often find this "nothingness" while I am doing handwork ... knit, crochet, cross stitch. I zone out, get into a flow, tune everything out. Even what I'm doing just flows. And after, I am refreshed, whole, calm.

It's so nice to return to nothing. To put the do not disturb sign out.

So, this is my Nothing.

I hope you find yours.

Peace Party

Did you know International Peace Day is September 21?

I was visiting Vanessa over at A Fanciful Twist this morning. She mentioned that her friend Rhonda Roo was having a Peace Party on September 21. I don't know about you, but a Peace Party seems like a very good thing to me! Why don't you join us?!

Here's a quote from Rhonda Roo's lovely blog:

"So let's do it! Won't you join me? On September 21st, let's post our little doves, and whatever else means peace to us-a peace symbol out of rose petals or the rose itself, a poem, a song, a person, a quote, a story, or a word, a picture, a moment in time, whatever it is that you see in your mind's eye when you think of peace! It doesn't have to be lavish--or, you can go extravaganza style! Whatever you can spare, so that, for just one day, there are so many people thinking peaceful thoughts a cloud bursts and starts showering us with shimmery love drops!"

Partying for Peace!

YeeeeHaaaaw!

(I'm editing this post to include the information that a new book is starting at The Next Chapter (an online book club). The book is The Joy Diet by Martha Beck. It just seems to me that JOY and PEACE go together! )