Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
~Dalai Lama

When I see a picture of the Dalai Lama, I can't help but break into a smile.  His small physical stature evokes respect as his essence emanates joy and compassion.  The core of his teachings appear simple.  His thoughts neatly organized.  His message echos loving kindness.  His mission seems to be one of living and spreading compassion. 

What is compassion?  The dictionary defines compassion as, "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering."  Can this tender feeling be cultivated towards self and others? 

As I think back over my life, I notice the moments where compassion took a back seat.  I notice the contradictory inner world of ego.  I notice the self narrative influencing decisions in my life.  As I sit today, I can't help but wonder about this notion of compassion.  Are we programmed for compassion? 

I picked up the most recent Mindful magazine, and in it there was an article on Compassion's Biological Fingerprint.  In this article, research was published from UC Berkley, as well as from Purdue University.  The research focused on the importance of the vagus nerve.  It is this 'wandering' cranial nerve that influences our parasympathetic nervous system.   The parasympathetic system is responsible for the feelings of relaxation, calm, and connection.   The overriding theme of this research highlights, "...these studies show that what happens in your vagus affects whether or not you can handle the feelings provoked by another person's suffering-and whether or not you'll feel concerned and motivated to help." 

Researchers are beginning to piece together the importance of the interdependent relationships of our bodies operating systems.  Social and Biological researchers are uncovering a rich interactive relationship, which is revealing a predictive provoking relationship in our ability to empathize- to practice compassion. 

How can you cultivate more compassion in your daily life?  In an article by Leo Babuata entitled, A Guide to Cultivating Compassion In Your Life, With 7 Practices, he outlines seven compassion practices:

1. Morning Ritual: "Greet each morning with a ritual. Try this one, suggested by the Dalai Lama: “Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others, I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
2. Empathy Practice: Try this practice: Imagine that a loved one is suffering. Something terrible has happened to him or her. Now try to imagine the pain they are going through. Imagine the suffering in as much detail as possible. After doing this practice for a couple of weeks, you should try moving on to imagining the suffering of others you know, not just those who are close to you.
3. Commonalities practice:  Instead of recognizing the differences between yourself and others, try to recognize what you have in common. At the root of it all, we are all human beings. We need food, and shelter, and love. We crave attention, and recognition, and affection, and above all, happiness. Reflect on these commonalities you have with every other human being, and ignore the differences.
4. Relief of suffering practice. Once you can empathize with another person, and understand his humanity and suffering, the next step is to want that person to be free from suffering. This is the heart of compassion — actually the definition of it. Try this exercise: Imagine the suffering of a human being you’ve met recently. Now imagine that you are the one going through that suffering. Reflect on how much you would like that suffering to end. Reflect on how happy you would be if another human being desired your suffering to end, and acted upon it. Open your heart to that human being and if you feel even a little that you’d want their suffering to end, reflect on that feeling. That’s the feeling that you want to develop. With constant practice, that feeling can be grown and nurtured.
5. Act of kindness practice: Now that you’ve gotten good at the 4th practice, take the exercise a step further. Imagine again the suffering of someone you know or met recently. Imagine again that you are that person, and are going through that suffering. Now imagine that another human being would like your suffering to end — perhaps your mother or another loved one. What would you like for that person to do to end your suffering? Now reverse roles: you are the person who desires for the other person’s suffering to end. Imagine that you do something to help ease the suffering, or end it completely. Once you get good at this stage, practice doing something small each day to help end the suffering of others, even in a tiny way. Even a smile, or a kind word, or doing an errand or chore, or just talking about a problem with another person. Practice doing something kind to help ease the suffering of others.
   
6. Those who mistreat us practice: The final stage in these compassion practices is to not only want to ease the suffering of those we love and meet, but even those who mistreat us. When we encounter someone who mistreats us, instead of acting in anger, withdraw. Later, when you are calm and more detached, reflect on that person who mistreated you. Try to imagine the background of that person. Try to imagine what that person was taught as a child. Try to imagine the day or week that person was going through, and what kind of bad things had happened to that person. Try to imagine the mood and state of mind that person was in — the suffering that person must have been going through to mistreat you that way. And understand that their action was not about you, but about what they were going through. Now think some more about the suffering of that poor person, and see if you can imagine trying to stop the suffering of that person. And then reflect that if you mistreated someone, and they acted with kindness and compassion toward you, whether that would make you less likely to mistreat that person the next time, and more likely to be kind to that person. Once you have mastered this practice of reflection, try acting with compassion and understanding the next time a person treats you. Do it in little doses, until you are good at it. Practice makes perfect.
7. Evening routine: I highly recommend that you take a few minutes before you go to bed to reflect upon your day. Think about the people you met and talked to, and how you treated each other. Think about your goal that you stated this morning, to act with compassion towards others. How well did you do? What could you do better? What did you learn from your experiences today? And if you have time, try one of the above practices and exercises.

Happy Monday!  If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, have you seen the nights' sky?  The sky has been glowing with the planets Venus and Jupiter.  A dear friend of mine is a Shamanic Astrologer in Hawaii.  I am always in awe of her deep and thoughtful connection to the Spirit world.  She sent over a very insightful report today about the 'show stopper' of the summer.  This show stopper is Venus.  The planet Venus is retrograde from July 26-September 6, 2015.  Venus is the planet of love, and as it moves into a retrograde motion it becomes a time of deep reflection for self.  Consciously or unconsciously we began ushering in themes, circumstance, and people who help us to answer the questions, "What are we in relationship with?  What is the quality of these connections?" 

Jessica goes on to explain that Venus is now moving into the energy of Leo who is concerned with 'Love, Joy, Pleasure, and all things self fulfilling.'  The basic question we can begin asking ourselves is---- How are we connecting to our hearts?

"When Venus turns Retrograde it is a time of navigating through the depths of ourselves like on a 40 day quest to re-discover the hidden forgotten, and abandoned aspects of self.  In Leo it is an emphasis upon our relationship to Love, Joy and Pleasure and the relationship by which we express these qualities of being.  Retrogrades are about re-assessing, re-doing, and re-membering...."

This musing was born from feeling the energy of a retrograde Venus.  From drawing inward.  From exploring self love.  From exploring the re-membering. 
May you Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah

The ways of love

I reach out for the unseen world,
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

Close your eyes and trust the presence of this ultimate guest,
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love. 

Each breath in becomes an invitation towards deeper self discovery
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

I bring a hand to my heart, and feel the flutter of life beneath it,
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

I feel the inner devotion of this sacred time.
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love. 

I feel the energy of Mother Mary,
I seek the knowledge of Saraswati,
I trust the abundance of Lakshmi
I call on the transformational energy of Kali
I surrender to the compassion of Kwan Yin
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

Inquiry quizzically dances at this sacred altar,
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

Laughter escapes from my lips, tears spill from my eyes,
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

Fear melts into the prayers of this transitional time.
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

Trust perches itself as book ends during this self reflective time
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

Inspiration flutters through the corridors of intimacy,
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

I shift my gaze and realize that this muse lives in the center of my chest.
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love.

Inward I go as I trust the Divine flow...
My heart whispers, learn the ways of love. 
~SLD~

Happy Thankful Thursday...
This song, Benediction was written by Josh Garrels for his children
Today I am dedicating this post to my niece. 
This sweet girl has yet to make her appearance in the world,
but she has already stolen our hearts. 
Our smiles couldn't be any wider,
Our hearts brimming with joy,
Our spirits so ready to share this journey with her. 
As I listen to the lyrics of this song I feel the grace of her arrival.
She is a precious reminder that it is truly all about love.   
Love will make your days complete...

BENEDICTION:
May all of your days shine brightly
And your nights blessed with peace
Wherever you lay down to sleep

And all things are made good
For those who believe
May you grow from a seed
Into a strong, fruitful tree

As the days unfold
Hold your breath to see
Life is a mystery

And joy, it is severe
When the way is rough and steep
But love will make your days complete

And may the work of your hands help those in need
Befriend the lonely, serve the weak
And forgive enemies

And if you find true love, one day marry
Bear a child from your seed
Help it to grow into a tree

As the days unfold
Hold your breathe to see
Life is a mystery

And joy, it is severe
When the way is rough and steep
Love will make your days complete

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah

“Life is glorious, but life is also wretched. It is both. Appreciating the gloriousness inspires us, encourages us, cheers us up, gives us a bigger perspective, energizes us. We feel connected. But if that's all that's happening, we get arrogant and start to look down on others, and there is a sense of making ourselves a big deal and being really serious about it, wanting it to be like that forever. The gloriousness becomes tinged by craving and addiction. On the other hand, wretchedness--life's painful aspect--softens us up considerably. Knowing pain is a very important ingredient of being there for another person. When you are feeling a lot of grief, you can look right into somebody's eyes because you feel you haven't got anything to lose--you're just there. The wretchedness humbles us and softens us, but if we were only wretched, we would all just go down the tubes. We'd be so depressed, discouraged, and hopeless that we wouldn't have enough energy to eat an apple. Gloriousness and wretchedness need each other. One inspires us, the other softens us. They go together.”
~Pema Chodron, Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living

I was taking a stroll through the cemetery the other day and I couldn't help but notice the massive stone structures erected in memoriam of particular families.  As I meandered throughout the cemetery I keep wondering what these influential people must have done to have amassed such external architectural feats.  Were their lives lived as grandly as these structures?  Did they love someone in an extraordinary way?  Did they contribute back to their communities?  Were they masters of their passions?  What was their legacy?  All of these thoughts swirled through my mind like a summer storm.  Intense.  Curious.  Cleansing. 

I came home and headed to my library room to grab a book to curl up with before bed.  As I flipped on the glow of the table lamp, my eyes instantly spotted, The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks.  As I pulled it off the shelf a piece of paper fell out.  It was a letter from a dear friend who had gifted this book back in 2006.  The letter opened on the floor as I knelt in gratitude.  I love the synchronicity of the universe. 

My eyes scanned the letter and the last paragraph jumped out at me: 
"Please remember that the most important thing in your life is not monetary, it is each other.  The only thing you will take with you from this lifetime is love and memories.  Build new ones each day.  Love Jim"

As I sat slumped on the floor I felt a well-spring of gratitude rise up.  My eyes stung with tears.  A smile easily escaped my lips.  My earlier walk and this treasured letter from a dear friend were such graceful reminders about this journey.  I grabbed my journal and began writing:

It matters not the monuments we build
Rather, it's the relationships we cultivate on a daily basis. 
It matters not the size of our bank accounts
Rather, it's the exponential energy of love that shall increase our wealth.
It matters not the amount of knowledge we poses
Rather, it's the ability to bestow kindness towards each other.
It matters not what we do for a living
Rather, it's the embers of our passions that cause us to revel with delight.
It matters not how many times we have been knocked down
Rather, it's the capacity to reawaken our devotion towards living.
It matters not what season it is
Rather, it's the capacity to appreciate the ever evolving cycles of nature. 
It matters not how quickly we move
Rather, it's the ability to find stillness in the task of evolving.
It matters not in what manner you travel
Rather, it's the deliberate announcement that you will say YES to this adventure.
It matters not that your heart has been bruised along the way
Rather, it's the fullness of love that will resurrect you.
It matters not where you rest.
Rather, it matters that you have loved every last trace of life. 

As you walk throughout the remainder of your day, may you be inspired to create your life with deliberate and thoughtful visions of the extraordinary.  Don't wait until it's too late.  Announce your desires.  Ask.  Intend.  Create.  Live your legacy on a daily basis. 

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah

Happy Monday beautiful hearts!!  Today on Sweetly Seeking I want to delve into the brilliance of our smiles!  When was the last time your face lit up with joy?  Can you remember grinning from ear to ear?  Flashing a smile towards a friend?  Smiling at a stranger?  What if you realized you were born with the muscles needed to produce this gratifying and life giving expression?   

After watching this TedX video, I think we should be flashing smiles in a multitude of directions!  As I was looking up some smile research on the web, I came across the APS website (Association for Psychological Sciences).  They posted an article, The Psychological Study of Smiling.  In the article by Eric Jaffe, he concludes the origin of our smile is contained in the sensory passages of our emotions.  There is a whole physiological process that produces this event.  Jaffe further goes on to say that the length of this process is only 2/3 - 4 seconds in length.   Looking at it this way, smiling sure is a small fragment of time, but produces unbelievable benefits.  This amazing research makes me smile just reading it!  The research is vast and complex, but even Charles Darwin began making connections back in 1872 with his book entitled, The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals. 

As you begin your week, may you be inclined to tap into this innate resource.  Just as Ron Gutman surmises, it may be our best shot at a super hero power!  Smiling increases joy.  Smiling decreases stress.  When in doubt...smile:)

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah

Happy Friday beautiful hearts.  One of my beautiful friends shared this with me earlier this week...may it serve as a reminder that we are the ones we've been waiting for. 

MESSAGE FROM HOPI ELDERS 

"TO MY FELLOW SWIMMERS:

There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. We must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personal, least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

WE ARE THE ONES WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR"

Oraibi Arizona
Hopi Nation

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah

Happy Thankful Thursday!  Today I want to talk about simplicity.  As the dictionary states, it is the 'freedom from complexity.' The ability to gain clarity from living, loving, and moving in a simple manner. 

My friend shared this video with my last night at the Yoga studio and I am still giggling!!  How precious is this little man?!  His approach to class says it all; fun, simple, and clear.  It's so easy to get caught in a cobweb of clutter.  It's easy to become preoccupied with the future.  As we assume this vision we tend to forget about the present.  It's easy to be all work, and no play.  Our lives are designed to keep us connected, but sometimes we miss the most important connection.  I have found in my life, that this important connection is to Source.  It waking up in the morning thinking, "Wow!  This is going to be an amazing day!  How can I inspire others?  How can I be of service?  How can I show up and be seen?  How can I share more LOVE?!" 

As you think about your own life, I invite you to re-connect with simplicity.  How can you create more freedom,?  More space?  More love?  More gratitude?  Tap into the energy of simplicity and watch your life softly melt into a river of ease. 

May this day remind you to do your own work.  May it remind you to breath into the pockets of freedom that are all around you.  May it remind you to clearly announce your desires and then move from a space of abundance as you create.  May this day inspire you to re-connect with a practice that offers you simplicity.   

Keep it simple...Keep it real!

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude and Love,
Sarah  

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In gratitude,
Sarah

"Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of prosperity who helps us overcome financial fears and tap into the river of abundance that's available to everyone."
~Ascended Masters Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue, PhD

Happy Monday beautiful hearts!   Today I want to reflect on the gorgeous energy of Lakshmi.  This beautiful Hindu goddess embodies the principals of abundance.  As I think of the word abundance, I glance at her iconic portrait and see the stream of coins pouring out of her hands, the lotus blossom beneath her feet, and her body adorned in jewels.  She richly stands in the bounty of the Earth and scatters her abundance to the ground as well as the heavens. 

She indeed represents financial prosperity, but at another glance, I can't help but think of the abundance she offers in terms of love, spirituality, and beauty.  According to Wikipedia, "in the Epics of Hinduism, such as in the Mahabharata, Laksmi personifies wealth, riches, beauty, happiness, loveliness, grace, charm and splendour." 

Lakshmi is one of my favorite goddesses.  It is my hope on this day that you would feel abundant...that you would feel supported...that you would focus on the wealth of living... that you would radiate beauty...that you might know grace.  Create a life of 'flow.'  Let love flow in this stream.  Let happiness flank the banks of this endless river.  Allow yourself to be abundant in thought, action and deed.  May you always tap into the infinite abundance of the Universe.  And So It Is...

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah