Need a burst of brilliance in a flash? This inspiring article is a speedy 2-minute adventure. But if you’re ready to put on your explorer hat and journey to the very heart of the matter, our menu is your treasure map to deeper understanding!
A message from today’s meditation:
It’s Monday! A fresh week stretches before you, a canvas waiting for the masterpiece of your creation. We’re ditching the “blue Monday” vibes and embracing the potential that this new chapter holds, so let’s start with a little bit of fun first.
I LOVE Sweatpants and Coffee’s Monday Motivations, maybe I’ll include them more often at the start of every week.
This week I won’t be focusing on a single teacher’s work, but cast the net wide to include a good collection of wisdom:
“The best way to predict the future, is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
What does this practically mean though? How is it that we create our future? How do we translate this grand idea into the nitty-gritty of our daily lives? How do we become the authors of our own futures, one Monday morning at a time?
“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The future is completely open and we are writing it moment to moment.” – Pema Chödrön
So, how do we ensure our path leads where we truly want to go?
The first step is profound yet simple – understanding how we recreate the past. We often fall into patterns, unconscious echoes of past experiences that dictate our reactions. These automatic responses are what keeps us stuck in a loop, hindering our progress. The crucial step? Awareness.
In every moment that an old programme, an old pattern, decides the action we take – we will continue to recreate the past.
And in every moment that we recognize the old reaction and stop in order to choose a new response, we are breaking free from the past – we are creating a new future!
Your willingness to encounter every moment with awareness, breaking free from the compulsion to act in an old way and sincerely ask the question, “what does this moment require of me?”… THIS is how you are creating your future, moment-by-moment.
Here are some thoughts for self-reflection in the week ahead of you:
- Identify your patterns: Reflect on past situations. Were there recurring challenges or reactions? Understanding these patterns is the first step to breaking free.
- Embrace awareness: Practice mindfulness throughout the day. Pause before reacting and choose your response consciously.
- Set intentions: What do you want to achieve this week? Setting clear intentions helps guide your choices and keeps your future vision in focus.
- Celebrate progress: Change takes time. Acknowledge your efforts, no matter how small, in shaping your future.
Remember, every Monday is a fresh start, an opportunity to rewrite your story. With awareness, intention, and a willingness to break free from the past, you can create a future that is truly yours. Make this Monday the beginning of your masterpiece!
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Jumpstart the week.
A moment of reflection
(If you have the time, use this question as a journal prompt, because whenever you put pen to paper you’re wiring the neural pathways that create your new habits. But if you don’t have the time, just take a moment to reflect on your response.)
Pema Chödrön’s quote states, “The future is completely open and we are writing it moment to moment.” How does the idea of writing your future “moment to moment” resonate with you? Describe a recent situation where you became aware of an old reaction and consciously chose a new response. What was the outcome, and what did you learn about your ability to shape your future in that moment?
Today’s LIVE meditation
Q&A for deeper learning
1. What does it mean to “create” my future, as mentioned in the article?
Creating your future, according to the article, isn’t about predicting it, but actively shaping it through your conscious choices and responses in the present moment. It involves breaking free from old, automatic patterns and intentionally choosing how you react to situations.
2. How do our past experiences influence our future?
The article suggests that we often unconsciously “recreate the past” by falling into familiar patterns of reaction. These automatic responses, rooted in past experiences, can keep us stuck in a loop and prevent us from moving towards our desired future.
3. What is the first step to take in creating a new future for myself?
The first crucial step highlighted in the article is awareness. This involves understanding how we tend to react based on past experiences and recognizing when an old pattern is influencing our current actions.
4. How can I break free from these old patterns?
You can break free by cultivating awareness in each moment. When you notice an old reaction arising, pause and consciously choose a new response. This deliberate choice disrupts the cycle of recreating the past.
5. What does it mean to encounter each moment with awareness?
Encountering each moment with awareness means being present and attentive, rather than reacting automatically. It involves asking yourself, “what does this moment require of me?” before acting, allowing for a more intentional and less habitual response.
6. The article mentions setting intentions. How does this help in creating my future?
Setting clear intentions helps to guide your choices and keeps your vision for the future in focus. By knowing what you want to achieve, you can make more deliberate decisions in your daily life that align with those goals.
7. What if change feels difficult or slow?
The article reminds us that change takes time. It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate your efforts, no matter how small, in consciously shaping your future. Every moment of awareness and intentional choice is a step in the right direction.