Three Thoughts for Thursday
Quote or Passage I’m Pondering and Appreciating:
“There is an old saying that consciousness is like a container of water. If you take a tablespoon of salt and place it in a small container, say, the size of an espresso cup, the water most certainly will be too salty to drink. But if your container is much larger – say it is capable of holding many, many gallons of water – that same tablespoon of salt, now placed into this vast amount of liquid, will taste fresh. Same water, same salt; simply a different ratio, and the experience of drinking is totally different.
Consciousness is like that. When we learn to cultivate our capacity for being aware, the quality of our life and the strength of our mind are enhanced.”
~ AWARE by Daniel J. Siegel, MD, p. 5
Book I’m Reading:
AWARE: The Science and Practice of Presence by Daniel J. Siegel, MD
Aware provides practical instruction for mastering the Wheel of Awareness, a life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence, and peace in one’s day-to-day life.
An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation’s effectiveness, this book teaches readers how to harness the power of the principle “Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows.” Siegel reveals how developing a Wheel of Awareness practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life.
Whether you have no experience with a reflective practice or are an experienced practitioner, Aware is a hands-on guide that will enable you to become more focused and present, as well as more energized and emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges life throws your way.
Question/Quote I’m Thinking About:
I recently was listening to a podcast with Arianna Huffington entitled What Will Be Your Spiritual Wake Up Call? and she shared an analogy I’ve been thinking about. She likened life to renting a car. When you rent a car you are given the choice of returning the tank full or empty. She noted she views life as a situation in which you have prepaid for the gas, so make sure you return the car with a tank that is empty.
How do you view life? Will you return the car with a tank that is full or empty? What if you consider you’ve prepaid for the gas? Do you play it safe or use every last drop and roll in on fumes?
Desiree Briel Rodi Consulting & Coaching 