Hi Jeff! This was thoughtful, real and deep, and I so appreciate it. Now I have a lot to think about regarding my ancestors, and more insight into meditation.. Thank you and please keep on keeping on with the work you do. Nobody does it quite the way you do -- to quote Carly Simon. :-)
This is so fricking powerful, beautiful, and relatable. You’ve done it again my friend. Encapsulated what so many of us experience.
Thank you.🙏
I personally have been in a very reflective state lately appreciating my parents and grandparents (all deceased) for all their love, sacrifices, and devotion. It’s deep and very real. I try to lead by example with my only adult son but feel like I could never quite measure up to their excellence. Time to meditate on some self compassion and gratitude. Right?❤️
This is such a good reminder -- I've been busily working on building all the wrong neural pathways by ruminating on unhelpful stories. I've been struggling with open awareness lately, and I think I need to get back to concentration practice for a while!
That’s why I chose a concentration retreat: back to basics. No big insight ambitions, just the sanity of choosing where and how to delegate your attention. And of course, the more you do that, the more you realize how deep a practice that really is.
What a beautiful unearthing of truth you found on this retreat. I’ve long taught my clients that emotion always follows thought. Every single time. When we change our thoughts, we change our emotions. You’ve presented such a great example of this as the true stories step forward from your bodily memories. I hope that many people read this.
Change our thoughts, change our emotions. Absolutely. Do you notice a delay? The mind moves so fast; emotions are more material. It always feels to me like they take longer to change.
Sometimes there’s a delay, but then I’ve found that if I encourage my clients (or myself) in envoke all five senses, the mind will stop racing as much.. if I’m seeking a peaceful memory, I imagine laying in the hammock at the lake. I can hear the seagulls and maybe someone’s motorboat, I can feel the rope hammock where my heel pokes thru the loops, I can smell the pot roast that is in the crock pot and the kitchen window is open, I can see the bluff and the sailboats racing out on the water.. and maybe I will imagine sipping a cold beer or an ice cold water while I’m swaying.
If that still doesn’t stop the racing thoughts, I focus on making the motorboat sound closer, or intensifying the pot roast smell etc. once I intensify the senses in the memory I’m there.
Jeff!!! Tears streaming while reading this. Something about it, a transmission, my heart tender and ripe to receive it, feeling the way my body knows truths my mind contorts or denies.
I LOVE this awareness of the stories we tell being a meditation. Goodness, this pulled me into a state of presence so startling, everything felt fresh and stunning.
Thank goodness for partners who hold down forts. My husband is home, ten days in, looking feral on facetime ready for my return.
I’m writing this from the airport as I travel home from a festival tour of my show. I was so sick that I did little other than perform and rest and wrestle with layers and layers of stories, which at the bottom of all of them was love. A deep well of love and belonging that a restless mind couldn’t touch.
Your writing is such a kind invitation, thank you for sharing with us. This felt like a cherry on top of a Sunday of my own adventurous reckoning!
Love this Chela! It’s funny what you wrote about your own stories, how at the bottom is love. I had another experience recently where I had been in a kind of griping mind loop around family challenges, and then I did a ceremony and was able to see really clearly that under all of that is a base of secure acceptance and love, like the base note in a song, always there. It actually has a palpable sensory quality. My restless mind not been paying attention to it, exactly as you say. Life! Welcome home from your tour, look forward to seeing your show!
Reading this touched upon a pocket of sadness inside me that feels compassion for body-minds palpably caught in the pain of insecure acceptance and love.
Wow! That’s so true isn’t it? Such a good reminder that we hold the power to reframe our relationships just by changing how we think and feel about them inside ourselves. Without the other person being involved at all!
Love your greatest hits. I totally relate to them!
Another one for you that is constantly playing in my head : ‘Things should only get better’ D:Ream (a big shift in meaning from Can only get better)
Thanks, Sallie, I felt very lucky to attend this one. I love my daily practice but to have a solid nine days really helps lock in subtle things you already knew, but had kind of forgotten
Wow! This is a revelation yet was right in front of us. We should ruminate on all the positive things in our lives and not the negative ones. Easier said than done but it takes practice, practice, practice. You give me strength, Jeff.
Hi Jeff! This was thoughtful, real and deep, and I so appreciate it. Now I have a lot to think about regarding my ancestors, and more insight into meditation.. Thank you and please keep on keeping on with the work you do. Nobody does it quite the way you do -- to quote Carly Simon. :-)
Much appreciation Patty!
Jeff,
This is so fricking powerful, beautiful, and relatable. You’ve done it again my friend. Encapsulated what so many of us experience.
Thank you.🙏
I personally have been in a very reflective state lately appreciating my parents and grandparents (all deceased) for all their love, sacrifices, and devotion. It’s deep and very real. I try to lead by example with my only adult son but feel like I could never quite measure up to their excellence. Time to meditate on some self compassion and gratitude. Right?❤️
Thanks Kay! My mind definitely goes to some similar places…
This is such a good reminder -- I've been busily working on building all the wrong neural pathways by ruminating on unhelpful stories. I've been struggling with open awareness lately, and I think I need to get back to concentration practice for a while!
That’s why I chose a concentration retreat: back to basics. No big insight ambitions, just the sanity of choosing where and how to delegate your attention. And of course, the more you do that, the more you realize how deep a practice that really is.
What a beautiful unearthing of truth you found on this retreat. I’ve long taught my clients that emotion always follows thought. Every single time. When we change our thoughts, we change our emotions. You’ve presented such a great example of this as the true stories step forward from your bodily memories. I hope that many people read this.
Change our thoughts, change our emotions. Absolutely. Do you notice a delay? The mind moves so fast; emotions are more material. It always feels to me like they take longer to change.
Love the work you do!
Sometimes there’s a delay, but then I’ve found that if I encourage my clients (or myself) in envoke all five senses, the mind will stop racing as much.. if I’m seeking a peaceful memory, I imagine laying in the hammock at the lake. I can hear the seagulls and maybe someone’s motorboat, I can feel the rope hammock where my heel pokes thru the loops, I can smell the pot roast that is in the crock pot and the kitchen window is open, I can see the bluff and the sailboats racing out on the water.. and maybe I will imagine sipping a cold beer or an ice cold water while I’m swaying.
If that still doesn’t stop the racing thoughts, I focus on making the motorboat sound closer, or intensifying the pot roast smell etc. once I intensify the senses in the memory I’m there.
Oh gosh so beautiful
Jeff!!! Tears streaming while reading this. Something about it, a transmission, my heart tender and ripe to receive it, feeling the way my body knows truths my mind contorts or denies.
I LOVE this awareness of the stories we tell being a meditation. Goodness, this pulled me into a state of presence so startling, everything felt fresh and stunning.
Thank goodness for partners who hold down forts. My husband is home, ten days in, looking feral on facetime ready for my return.
I’m writing this from the airport as I travel home from a festival tour of my show. I was so sick that I did little other than perform and rest and wrestle with layers and layers of stories, which at the bottom of all of them was love. A deep well of love and belonging that a restless mind couldn’t touch.
Your writing is such a kind invitation, thank you for sharing with us. This felt like a cherry on top of a Sunday of my own adventurous reckoning!
Love this Chela! It’s funny what you wrote about your own stories, how at the bottom is love. I had another experience recently where I had been in a kind of griping mind loop around family challenges, and then I did a ceremony and was able to see really clearly that under all of that is a base of secure acceptance and love, like the base note in a song, always there. It actually has a palpable sensory quality. My restless mind not been paying attention to it, exactly as you say. Life! Welcome home from your tour, look forward to seeing your show!
Reading this touched upon a pocket of sadness inside me that feels compassion for body-minds palpably caught in the pain of insecure acceptance and love.
Fabulous I needed this 💛
This was thought provoking and uplifting in ways that surprised me. Thank you for sharing so openly. I relate to what you have to say and it helps me.
Very happy to hear it, Candice
I got this Buddy 👌🏻 thanks Geoff 🙏🏼😑
Nice homie!
I was really touched by your memories.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Khiri
Thank you so much for that meditation, Jeff.
You’re welcome, Bethel!
Wow! That’s so true isn’t it? Such a good reminder that we hold the power to reframe our relationships just by changing how we think and feel about them inside ourselves. Without the other person being involved at all!
Love your greatest hits. I totally relate to them!
Another one for you that is constantly playing in my head : ‘Things should only get better’ D:Ream (a big shift in meaning from Can only get better)
yes! "Why Aren't Things Getting Easier?"
The generational anthem!
Oh I love hearing about retreat experiences, especially at IMS. IMHO Winnie is an especially wonderful teacher. Thanks for sharing!
Winnie is the best. She gave this one Dharma talk that blew my mind. Plus, she’s hilarious. That’s cool you know her.
Hi Jeff,
Retreats are a great time to explore meditation. I’m glad you were able
To attend one. I miss going on retreats. I appreciate your candid conversations about connecting with your grandparents. It sounds like
The retreat was a good experience for you!! You are an amazing meditation instructor. Keep up the good work!
Thanks,
Sallie Gilman
Thanks, Sallie, I felt very lucky to attend this one. I love my daily practice but to have a solid nine days really helps lock in subtle things you already knew, but had kind of forgotten
Wow! This is a revelation yet was right in front of us. We should ruminate on all the positive things in our lives and not the negative ones. Easier said than done but it takes practice, practice, practice. You give me strength, Jeff.
Ooof. So relate… Why are we like this!? Still!? 😂
💓😘💓