Thawing Out
Sometimes I feel stuck, like a frozen landscape in the winter. Then, spring comes along, melts the ice, and allows movement and growth to occur. Yet I don’t always feel ready to thaw out – there’s a resistance to change that builds up inside me, at times feeling heavy, and at other times creating pressure that is almost unbearable.
I have learned to listen to the resistance. Not to fight it or try to push it away, which only intensifies it. The resistance tells me what I need to soften inside myself in order to thaw, in order to be able to break ground and let the new sprouts of my ideas emerge.
This was happening with writing my newsletter this month. The ice of my immobility says fearful things, like I’m not good enough, or I don’t have anything worthwhile to say. Yet when I listen deeply to the resistance, it reminds me that the very act of working with it and moving through it is worth sharing, for we all experience these obstacles.
As I sit with the resistance and let it open up places I didn’t want to look into, I once again hear the inner voice of wisdom, that is full of ideas and truth. My writer’s voice comes alive with words. When I feel the resistance to just sitting down and beginning, I place myself in front of the keyboard, not knowing what will unfold, and sooner or later, something does. It’s not always the first words that mean something, but as I soften more and let myself thaw out, vision emerges from beneath the inner ice and now a lush landscape slowly reveals itself.
Let yourself thaw out… sit with your heart, feel it’s resistance and see what it wants to share. Take steps out of the resistance, out of just staying comfortable, and see what it sparks in you. Allow some quiet time to listen and hear what has been tapping you on the shoulder for days, months, years… then, let it guide you to your first, small action. Each little action builds upon the next, until before you know it, you’re miles down the road.
Would you like some inspiration to open your heart and mind and get you started? Spiritual Family is coming up on Sunday, April 14th! Together, we honor the Divine through yoga for adults as well as children, meditation, contemplation and discussion, and fun celebration! This month, we’ll immerse in “The Sacred Dance of Creation” – what longs to be created in your life?
Then join me for my workshop in Redwood City next month: Path to Oneness. It’s an introduction to yoga philosophy that you won’t want to miss. Open to all levels of yoga experience, we’ll deeply explore some key spiritual teachings from the Yoga Sutras that bring transformation on and off the mat. Details are below.
If you’re struggling with health issues, a very uplifting and transformative movie is The Cure Is… I invite you to watch it!
This month’s blog/article addresses one of the biggest issues that makes us freeze – fear. Which Path Will You Take? What to Do When Faced With Fear helps you thaw out from being stuck in the places that scare you. Let me know what you think!
Get out there and enjoy the spring sunshine of your Spirit!
Blessings,
Connie
Contents:
- Announcements
- Event Calendar
- This Week’s Blog: Which Path Will You Take? What to Do When Faced With Fear
by Rev. Connie L. Habash - Awakening Self Radio Show Schedule
- Spiritual Quotes
Announcements
New Yoga workshop coming in May!
Path to Oneness – An Introduction to Yoga Philosophy
Yoga poses are just the tip of the iceberg… Yoga, meaning “Union” or Oneness, is a spiritual path, practiced in all aspects of life, and applicable to all religions and spiritual practices. Discover the profound and practical philosophy behind the poses…
You’ll take a new understanding of yoga onto your mat and into your life!
Sunday, May 19th, 2013
2-4pm
at Center for Spiritual Living, Peninsula (Redwood City offices)
$25-40 suggested donation
See my website for more details! Or register online at the CSL-Peninsula website
Spiritual Family
Sunday, April 14th – Theme: The Sacred Dance of Creation
Sunday, June 9th – Theme: Spiritual Graduation
Sunday, August 18th – TBA
9:15-11am.
330 Melville, Palo Alto, CA
Join us for an all-ages celebration of the Divine through yoga (kids and adult classes!), meditation, singing, spiritual discussion and community. For details, see Spiritual Family.
Movie – The Cure Is…
I discovered an inspiring new movie about healing and transformation! If you loved The Secret or What the Bleep Do We Know?, you’ll be uplifted and moved by The Cure Is… you can watch it for free! Click here to watch the movie. Share with your friends!
Sacred Journey Women’s Spiritual Psychotherapy Group – 2nd group starting Summer or Fall
A place to call your sanctuary…
A group of women who deeply support you on your spiritual path and nurture your personal growth, healing, and transformation
- Find your authenticity
- Develop trust – in yourself, others, and the Divine
- Learn to communicate confidently and honestly
- Transform your relationships
- Work through challenging emotions
- Discover your true, empowered Self
Spiritual topics each session lead us to explore meaningful areas of our lives. Meditation and other spiritual practices deepen the experience.
This is a place to bring it all, knowing you’re accepted and embraced in your unique spiritual and personal path. This is a Sacred Journey. See my website for more details.
If you feel called to this group, call or email me for further questions or to schedule your one-on-one initial session.
Teacher Training starts this month in Walnut Creek, CA!
I am again teaching the Introduction to Sanskrit module of the Yoga and Movement Center’s 6th Advanced Studies/Teacher Training. It’s led by my first yoga teacher, Diane Valentine, and Dennis Eagan. Hurry – course begins April 13th!
Feeling the inner call to transform your life?
I have new openings for counseling and psychotherapy during the week available for individuals and couples (even adolescents, too!) who seek more fulfillment and integration of body, mind, heart, and spirit in their life and relationships. Although I have experience in many areas, I specialize in depression, anxiety, grief, life purpose, motherhood issues, communication and relationship issues, self-esteem, releasing the past, and deepening your spiritual life. See my website for more information. Call or email me for a free phone consultation.
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@ConnieHabash
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Event Calendar
Which Path Will You Take? What to Do When Faced With Fear
by Rev. Connie L. Habash
Everyone deals with difficulties in life. Sooner or later, something scares us. It may be the aging process, a snake, the fear of rejection, or a dwindling bank account.
Gone are the days when we have to worry about lions chasing us (unless, of course, you live in Kenya). Fear has become more subtle. In the words of Kristin Neff, PhD, author of Self-Compassion, now our fears arise not just from dark alleys or sounds that go bump in the night, but from “threats to our self-concept” – the idea of who we think we are. Yet, they end up causing similar levels of stress in the body as that lion chasing us. The fear that runs us, day in and day out, is the fear that we’re unlovable, of being bad, wrong, or a failure.
React or Respond
When we are faced with fear, we have two possible choices: react or respond. When we react, we allow fear to run us, to control our emotions, our actions, our words. But when we respond, we transform a moment of fear into a moment of empowerment.
What is a fear reaction? When we are exposed to a traumatic situation, there are three reactions that occur: fight, flight, and freeze (see Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine). The kind of fear I’m referring to, however, isn’t life or death situations, although learning how to respond rather than react in those is very helpful. In our day-to-day lives, it is the little fears – the perceived threats to our self-concept – that disempower us and cause us to react.
It is in these little fears that we have the opportunity to change our lives. And we see three similar reactions to those little fears: fight, flight, and freeze.
Awakening Self Radio Show Schedule
This Month’s Show:
Tuesday, April 16th, 9-9:30pm PDT – Evening Meditation and Inspriation
Theme: Breathwork for deeper meditation
In yoga practice, meditation was usually prepared for with asana (yoga postures) and pranayama (breathwork).
We will do a couple simple yoga poses and then focus on breathwork that specifically calms the mind and induces a more meditative state. Then, we’ll have some silence to practice meditaiton on the breath, with a few reminders to keep you focused.
Last Month’s Shows:
Tuesday, March 12th, 9-9:30pm PDT – Evening Meditation and Inspiration
Theme: Mantra in meditation
In tonight’s show, we’ll explore the use of mantra in meditation. Mantra, or chanting, keeps the mind focused as well as frees the mind from agitating thought. You have a choice of some simple mantras, in English or Sanskrit, to practice with.
There will be some silent spaces in which to put our meditation in practice. Together, let’s discover the Divine within!
Click the link above to listen, or you can always call in to listen or ask questions at (347) 843-4408
Tuesday, March 19th, 1:30-2pm – Awakening Self Radio Show:
“Following Spirit’s Breadcrumbs”
How can we learn to follow Spirit’s guidance? What are the “breadcrumbs” that God – the Divine – drops along our path to show us the way? You’ll learn some keys to making good decisions and following your spiritual path (and how not t make decisions, too!). Call in to ask questions or share your “breadcrumb” story!
Spiritual Quotes
“When one realizes that one is asleep, in that moment one is already half-awake.” – P.D. Ouspenksy
“If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be much better to turn your attention to the fact that there’s an arrow in your heart…”
– Pema Chodron
“Don’t move the way fear makes you move. Move the way love makes you move. Move the way joy makes you move.” – Osho
