Life with no regrets. I have made this an intention for quite a number of years now and was pondering how this intention has shifted my perspective in enormous ways. I am writing this now as I sit outside at a local coffee shop where I have come to work on administrative tasks. A young mom with her two preschool age children have arrived and occupy the lounge area in front of me. They are chatty and happy – delightfully sharing a pastry. A lull this rainy afternoon means the usually full outdoor couches are empty, allowing the young girls to playfully arrange the cushions (no harm done) and watch the sparrows pick up crumbs.
A warm feeling spreads across my chest.
In this moment, I think of myself when my own children were that age about 14 years ago. I attempt to remember if I experienced moments like that with my kids. Instead of regret or dwelling on the fact that I cannot remember many moments of relaxed glee, I warmly and fondly think of that younger version of myself.
You were doing the best you could with the tools that you had.
I take a few breaths and send the mom before me in the moment AND the younger version of myself COMPASSION: A sincere wish and prayer: to be free of suffering and the root of suffering; to know happiness and the root of happiness. I choose to allow my heart to smile at this woman and her children at Starbucks and at myself and my kids more than a decade earlier.
That might sound bananas: My Heart To Smile?
Back then I had no tools for dealing with stress and high anxiety. Everything felt like and emergency or a fire to put out. While I did have an intense life then, there was plenty to be thankful for. There were many moments to relax and enjoy the moment. However, my memories of actually doing that are few and far between.
Over time, the intensity with which I greeted life, started to take a toll on my health. It certainly didn’t do any favors for my contentment and ability to go with the flow.
Chronic pain and a health crisis brought to light the fact that I needed to calm down.
These days, I write and speak about the role of a powerful qi gong practice called Pangu Shengong (qi gong) in helping not only build my internal energy but also to CALM DOWN. I am stronger now than I have ever been (even during my triathlon years). I sleep well. I have FREEDOM from physical pain (huge). My relationships are strong and I am blessed to have incredible people in my life. I am doing what I love and was meant to do for a living. It is an honor.
No Joke. Everyday I feel like life keeps getting better.
Better – In the midst of “stressful” events happening: Life IS happening. People are sometimes challenging. Teenagers are sometimes frustrating. Unexpected and expensive car repairs show up. Someone close to me has a health crisis. Etcetera.
Practice Compassion in big broad ways, including transforming a tendency to have regrets. Become stronger internally, not just externally. Great personal power resides in choosing to allow our HEART to SMILE at what stirs up discomfort in us – Our hearts to smile at what WE DO NOT LIKE. Catch Regret. And Choose authentically to have No Regrets in the first place.
It’s a game changer.
It heals.
No regrets is a Compassion practice. Compassion is not just a nice thing to have for yourself or others. It heals. Just building your energy isn’t enough. Elevate your heart and soul too.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
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