Awakening Self Blog

Living in the Flow

Many of us have heard of “flow” states – where effortlessness and ease move through us and we enter, as many athletes call it, “the zone”. Living in the Flow is allowing more of the Divine to move through you and as you, as Rev. Michael Ber…

Being Present Enriches Everything

Everything in life is enriched by Presence. We may not always make the time for being fully Present; we might prefer to multitask, believing it will be more efficient. But when we sit down, fully Present, with one thing at a time, we enjoy life…

Doubt (Samshaya): The Third Obstacle to Spiritual Practice

This post is the second of a 9-part series on the obstacles to spiritual practice, from verse 1:30 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: vyādhistyānasanśaya pramādālasyāvirati bhrāntidarśanālabdha bhūmikatvānavasthitatvāni cittavikṣēpās…

Your Inner Witness – the First Step to Release Suffering

The first step to overcome debilitating emotions or agitating thoughts is cultivating the Inner Witness. When we want to create positive change in our lives – and especially in our emotions – it’s important to recogni…

Why I Love Walking (and What I Miss When I Don’t)

So many of us drive, even for short distances. Is it a way of avoiding the world? What are the gifts of walking? Here is my short reverie on a walk across town. My chiropractor’s office is a very short drive from my home – about 3-5 minutes or so. Si…

Why Anger Matters and What to Do with It

Anger gets a bad rap in the therapy – and spirituality – community. It’s labeled a “negative” emotion, and for good reason. When anger runs us and we react to it, it can blow like a volcano and make quite a mess of our relationships…