Mana
Gardening

Typically, a New Year’s resolution is a tradition in which a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior. A commitment is a state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc. 

Generally, people resolve to do something or not do something for the entire year. Many times resolutions fail due to unrealistic goals, not keeping track of progress, or just forgetting.  Resolutions comprise a decision that usually lacks a plan of action. For example, one may resolve to go to the gym three times per week for the rest of the year, but only make it to they gym the month of January. Or one may resolve to have more patience this year but don’t feel they are making progress. Resolutions can be very hard to keep, especially without an action plan because it is not always easy to come up with the inspiration, aka the juice,  to take the consistent actions that are required to attain the goal all year long. Many times resolutions are simply unachievable.

Blue Ridge Parkway 2015 by Michelle Shine

Commitments are different in that they are focused on being dedicated to something. They usually involve a plan of action and the inspiration to take the consistent action can continually come. Commitments are sometimes seen as obligations, however, having commitments, aka being dedicated, will allow you to reach your goals. An interesting thing about commitment is once you know what you are committed to, you have the freedom to take baby steps towards that commitment. You can commit for a week or commit for one day toward that larger goal. You don’t have to commit for the entire year. You can have mini-commitments.

For example, let’s say you are committed to having a healthy body because that is the future you want for yourself. This week, you feel like you have energy and space in your schedule to go to the gym twice, so you commit to going to the gym two times this week. After you complete your two gym sessions, you celebrate yourself and say, “Wow I did a great job. I honored my commitment to my healthy body and went to the gym twice this week!”  You can pat yourself on the back, give yourself a hug or sit in silent appreciation for yourself for a few moments. You just accomplished your goal. One reason it was easily accomplished was because it was achievable due to the short length of the commitment.

The next week, since you are still dedicated to owning a healthy body, make sure to commit again. Consider how many times you can go to the gym next week, commit to it and do it. Just keep committing and keep taking action towards that larger commitment of having a healthy body. 

Boulder, CO 2015 by Michelle Shine

You can also just commit for one day. For example, you can write a list of your commitments for today. Perhaps you are dedicated to being a writer. You might sit in meditation and get an inspiration for a great blog topic and commit to writing and posting a blog today. You honor your commitment through your action and do it! Once you’ve completed writing your blog, you get to celebrate you. Then just commit again next week.

The key to reaching your goals is to keep making commitments. They can be baby-step commitments or mini-commitments, and as long as you are consistent about making commitments, you’ll reach your goals.

Be committed to making new commitments that align with your highest desires and what you are dedicated to and you cannot fail! 

What are you committed to this year? And what mini-commitments can you make today or this week, that if completed, would be a step forward for you? 

Warm aloha, 

Michelle Shine

Investor Gap 2016 by Maurice Murray

Do you notice your mind making complaints that make you unhappy?
I notice these things, too.

After feeling pretty good for a while, do you suddenly not feel that good anymore? If so, then take a look at what was just going on in your head and you may see why. I bet your mind has been busy complaining, resisting, and/or procrastinating. (Like my mind does…)

This morning on the way to the gym, I was feeling in good spirits. I had already done my morning mana gardening meditation. Then in the gym,  I caught my head saying things like,

“I don’t want to be here…”
“Ugh. How fast can I get outta here?”
“Why do I always have to move the squat bar holders up a few notches?”
“Why can’t people put the bar cushion away in the right place?”

 

Felt my energy going downhill and my mood going south.

Noticing my complaining mind,  I decided to do something different.

My intention was to switch my thoughts to change my focus from complaining to something higher that would feel better. The answer I recieved was really helpful, so I was guided to share it.

Asking Questions

First off, let me explain about questions. Many of us know this, yet our minds keep playing this game and we don’t always catch it as quickly as we would like.

If you ask a question, the universe works to answer it.

With that said, always (or at least as much as possible) ask questions you really want an answer to. Questions, that when you learn the answer, you feel good about.

Do NOT ask questions like:

• Why is there so much traffic?
• Why are people so huffy today?
• What is my problem?
• What is wrong with me?
• Why does this always happen to me?

Because you will get the answer at some point and it won’t feel good and it likely won’t serve you to know it anyway. Ok, so that’s the deal with questions. On with how to stop the complaining mind.

Here’s the Trick

Here’s a great trick when you notice complaints flowing.

Ask a NEW question.

Ask,  “What do I LOVE about this?”

When I asked that question in the gym, my mind was flooded with positive, feel good answers!

—I loved that it’s summer and I rode my bike to the gym and simply took off my helmet and started working out. Loved that I didn’t have to wear 4 layers and head to the locker room to de-garb before working out. Loved that today, that part of my life felt easy.

—I loved that my muscles were building strength and I could feel it.

—I loved that my body could even do what I was asking of it, that I was healthy and feeling powerful.

—I loved that I could drink great tasting filtered water and not chlorinated water there.

—I loved that I was there and that others who were taking care of their bodies were there as well.

 

Then my mood/energy started to shift back up into the positive realm. This is because, instead of focusing on the answers to my complaints and negative questions, I was now focused on a really healthy plethora of awesome answers!

What a great question to ask!

The monkey mind is bananas (well actually it’s nuts!) and works hard to keep us in a negative space, so we have to have some tricks up our sleeves to help us stay true to highest nature. We have a right to be happy! Hope this trick helps you!

Next time you notice the mind complaining about something, just ask,

“What do I love about this?”

Or ask questions you really want the answers to and see what you get. Bet you will feel much better!

Namaste,
Michelle