Feeling into what to write about and the word Passion came to me as being a quality that all we all focus on living in our everyday lives. I have heard a lot about it and what I want to share are suggestions to embody it in our feeling nature, working through the mental constructs of what we have heard, observed, been told – our conditioning throughout our lives.
Years ago, attending business meetings, some coaches and leaders used passion as a most important element to live out of, and I suggest that we may hear this message with our heads, rather than our hearts. We take on suggestions and they become words, should, to do and become, without an inner motivation which can best come from our own heart centre.
We beat ourselves up, judge and thrash about trying to make it happen, losing motivation, which ties in with the last issue’s topic where we reach a motivational dip in our lives. What we do has to have a true meaning for us and when it does, we light up. We look and feel lit up and our whole character embodies passion in what we do, whatever that may be.
Perhaps it is simple, such as the joy of knitting or crocheting, collecting and the fun in finding those objects. It can be sport, which anyone of us can be totally absorbed in. If it is exercise, a danger is that it may become an empty habit we keep on doing, without stopping and rejigging, questioning why we do it. A lot of us, myself included, adore gardening, losing ourselves in that activity, whilst a majority of us no doubt, will express an urge to go outside and connect with nature, whether it may be heading up into the hills, or down to the beach. Or simply as we do, going to a park, meeting other doggie people for a chat, being outside, especially at sunset.
As in the way of all habits, they become habitual, another new ritual, like a religion, which may serve us at the time and over time, becomes, shall we say, fulfilled? As in we keep doing it and habits can be outworn, when it is time to release them and go in another direction.
There is nothing wrong in giving up on something. It is when the mind keeps us hanging on to things, which can be anything in our lives (let’s not take personal, worldly commitments into this, we still have to honour those commitments). At times we need to take the time to be quiet, still, contemplative, breathe, meditate perhaps, and reflect upon whether it feels ‘right’ to move on, as our time can be better spent in turning to another activity.
A friend shared with me how in the Philippines, there are better results because their healing approach is treat the whole body. Cancer is the one she spoke of and overall, the human body is looked upon from a holistic bodily approach. I loved hearing that!
We have a four-body system, etheric, emotional, mental and spiritual. Our body is intelligent and I have often heard it said many times over the years, that it can heal itself of just about anything, given the chance to do so.
Coming back to the topic of Passion, Play and Laughter Yoga. It is not naughty to have fun. Our body is a beautiful, unique one. No two bodies or people are exactly alike and neither will t hey be alike all the time, because of the consistent changes that are happening, evolution in a nutshell.
I believe in living each day with love and enthusiasm and if we lose that, what do we have? Grumpy, disillusioned people walking the earth, projecting negativity and where does that come from? Within. We feel what we are projecting our first within ourselves. The same goes when we express or feel love, we are spirit living in a human body, lent to us by Mother Earth who is a loving, benevolent being. In order to give love, it wells up, is expansive and it flows from there, right inside our very own heart. Don’t try to fix the world, work on feeling love and a lightness, infused with passion, overflowing your cup into the world. The world needs it more than ever before and every person makes a difference. You do. I do. We all do. Let’s see if we can get in touch with the passion that has been covered over and get it happening again.
Laughter Yoga definitely helps to do that. It is very freeing. I will not say that it is the be all and end all. It is a wonderful, marvellous tool which we use to assist our body to be healthier and it works on the four body system, as mentioned before. How we do it at laughter club is fantastic as we are involved in playful activities, allowing our inner children to be released and expressed. We sing, laugh, breathe deeply and include positive affirmations. This all helps our overall wellbeing.
It is life changing for people who come along. At the same time, you can do it at home, especially with AI, which I am not a fan of. But if you Google about laughter yoga, many videos and much information comes up immediately for you to be able to do by yourself, if you have sufficient self-determination.
One of the benefits though is the social side of coming together with us or others in a group. Humans need connection with other humans. That I firmly believe. You are always welcome to join us.
So passion and play are crucial to live as if you are fulfilling your purpose in life. It may be a simple purpose too, to live each day to the best of your ability and to ground more love upon the earth. Simple as that. How about that eh?
Hobbies are good, to have an interest or outlet that really lifts you up, inspires you, something creative in particular I feel, not that I am judging watching TV or sporting matches, as they have their place. Choose something which helps you get in touch with your soul expressing through your body, where time stops, seems to stand still, are totally and utterly absorbed in the project, having a still mind and emotions. I find gardening works for me and a new hobby which I am revealing to the world here.
Sometimes we don’t know why we are doing something, at least I don’t. We may simply feel led, that for whatever reason, it feels right to do something, until it doesn’t feel right to do so. We can really miss that. Let me share that 19 years ago, right from the start of offering a free community laughter club and for four or five years, hardly anyone was coming, none at all a lot of the time. This seems to be a good example of following one’s heart. Somehow, I hung on, believing it had the potential of bringing people together, as I always felt it important to maintain positivity and hope in our lives as time passes. I had observed as a youngster that was not the case in adults and somehow, I made the decision, not to let it happen to me. Life can beat us around the ears and it takes conscious application to remain in a positive frame of mind at times. Especially when we are in our darkest hour. You know what I mean?
I have been dabbling in art all my life and would have given it up, and did not feel that I had a particular talent, except that I am dogged about things, hang on maybe too long as well. It is not about being good at it, the main thing is to keep on going. Once I had a bad argument and reacted to John, my hubby and greatest supporter. We were driving towards the city and he said that his previous wife was a real artist and I felt deeply hurt by his remark. I made him stop, jumped out of the car and thumbed a lift back home. This shows my low self esteem at the time and it is not a healthy habit to compare ourselves with another human being.
To be successful, I encourage you to work on your worthiness and monitor your reasons for whatever it is you are doing. You do it for yourself, because you are greatly loved and matter. Does it really make a difference after all, our judgment of what we do and whether we feel something is good or not, because if you are expressing yourself, feeling better for it, it has a purpose.
In my art I have done a lot over the years and each for a long time. I got interested in Zentangle drawing years ago and discovered that the loose, doodling drawings I had been doing for yonks, were very much in that style. Well at present I am passionate about combining my calligraphy, painting, drawing, positive words and affirmations into rock paintings. It feels important to write positive words or sayings and share them with people, as a reminder to keep your chins up – stay positive at all costs. It is alright to drop in doing so, as in steps forwards and backwards. Keep getting up, marching on, going forward and never, ever give up!!!
With my rock paintings, I feel absorbed, completely and utterly. I often listen to something while doing so and for me, it takes me into another space and time, as I feel very still and absorbed. This is what I am suggesting you may like to do, pick up an old creative hobby or a new one and get it happening. I had been doing a daily jigsaw on my tablet for a long time, which was very stilling for the mind and emotions, but not giving me the creativity connection which was missing.
Here is a photo of my rock paintings, as they are presently being expressed, because everything seems to be a new opportunity to learn and grow within myself. Isn’t life simply wondrous? Well it can be so at least.
What will you do?
I would love to hear and encourage you to give yourself a break and become totally absorbed in something which you can feel by the results of doing so, is highly beneficial for your whole body, the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies.
God bless. Sending you love and passion in abundance. Wishing you well.
Laughter and Other Events
The Ferntree Gully Laughter Club meets at 11am on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month behind the library. We are also greatly appreciative of Ajne, Team Leader at the Ferntree Gully Library who loves and believes in what we do, hosting laughter and meditation sessions on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 2pm. I also facilitate regular spiritual growth classes and workshops, which you may want to hear about at some stage in your life.
First timers, please contact me, Lynette in case of a meeting change, and if you would like to read my email newsletter, receive the email reminder when the laughter club is on next, or even you may like to join the Facebook group (Google it or ask me).
Cheerio for now and be kind to yourself.
Lots of Love, Laughter and Blessings. Lynette Mitchell.