Problems into Possibilities

Turning Problems into Possibilities

The moment you notice it, take hold of that mental affliction with your attention and purposefully turn it into an aspiration. It’s as though you see the mental affliction as raw material, the way a potter would view clay. You don’t see clay as a problem; you see it as an opportunity to create something. —Lama Kathy Wesley, “Your Mistakes Are Progress”

I would add "physical" affliction to "mental" affliction as raw material. To address both mental and physical, I have been actively making changes in my life. It feels good to actually be doing something about something I have been unhappy about! I am not taking the clay of my life and fashioning it into the opportunity to create a new sculpture of my life.

This approach to turning problems into possibilities also means turning around your thinking. If you wake up with a painful hip, notice it and turn it into I am working on treating my body in a way that makes my hip feel healthy and whole. It means being thankful for a positive outcome as though it has already manifested, and even better knowing that it has begun!

Previously, I believe, I wrote about some of the pangs of growing older, this post is a review for myself of the changes I have made to live the positive aspects of growing older.

My painful hips, knees, rotator cuffs, neck, lower back, etc. cause me to limit my activity. On waking, my hips and lower back are so painful as to make me feel "crippled." I sit in front of my computer for too long of a time and raise stiff and sometimes in pain. Stairs have become more difficult for me to climb: up and down!

Began with a Pulmonary Doctor who thought I had COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, involving constriction of the airways and difficulty or discomfort in breathing) but all my tests came back "normal." Yet I seem more easily out of breath. Carrying groceries in from the car, to the condo, and putting them away has become a more difficult task.

My sleeping habits have become erratic again and I nap for up to an hour almost every day. My weight is stable at "TOO MUCH!" Yet I have not been enjoying my meals. Sweets, pastries, etc have always been a downfall and Christmas Treats were no different.

I will not even go into changes and minor difficulties with bathroom activities!

But enough for the NEGATIVE side of me. There is also a VERY POSITIVE aspect to my life on which I am actively working and maybe it is just in time for the New Year, 2019, although I do not believe in New Year Resolutions. Those usually fail by January 15th!

I decided that I will grow older gracefully in those areas over which I have no control but will take in hand those over which I do. So I have begun to work harder on physical limitations that do not need to be so limiting. It feels good not only to have made this decision but to have been working on it now for over one month!

1) I am now working with a personal trainer. Our sessions have been so helpful to my overall body awareness and I engage in the stretching and movement even on days when she is not here. Yesterday, we decided to have her come to the condo twice a week if only because we are making so much progress. Once we get a routine in place in the condo, she will come with me to LA Fitness (downstairs of the condo) to see what I might do there to continue the good work we do (upstairs in the condo.)

2) My Guru, Corrine, introduced me to the trainer and Corrine will be working with me to develop some Yoga and Buddhist Meditations and Practices to compliment the work of the trainer. 

Here is a "Heartfelt Desires" page I developed on Corrine's recommention:

Heartfelt Desires

PART ONE: December 15, 2018 (Gray Font)

Working with Jessica Dare (Physical Trainer) and Corinne Peterson (Yoga Teacher/Guru,) I am setting down preliminary Heartfelt Desires for my Body Awareness, Movement, and Care Practice.

These desires are made in positive statements, with gratitude and thankfulness for their already being a chosen focus of my daily life, already being part of my experience, and already seeing progress accomplished.

PART TWO: December 21, 2018 (Black Font)

The next part of the process is to take each one and imagine it were already true, right now, in this moment. How would each feel in the body of it were true?

• • • • •

I am comfortable in my body and as a 73 year old, I look and feel good in my clothing.

Feeling better about myself, enjoying shopping for exciting new clothing, am proud of how I look, look forward to “dressing up” in sport coat etc. Confident in my presence with others.

My breathing is full and deep.

Energetic, doing more, getting out on every day activities as well as special ones in nature. Fairing well in all I attempt Not avoiding activities due to fear.

My energy is high and easily available.

My health is strong and free from illness and injury.

Facing each day knowing I am OK. Not working unnecessarily about “old age.” Looking forward to spending each day productively and positively.

My body movement and stretching, walking and exercise add to my all around good health and happiness.

Exercising regularly and daily. Looking forward to the day’s movement activities. Knowing that what I do adds to my overall health and therefore the ability to do what I want and to enjoy myself and my life. Doing things now that I have not been able to do in the recent past.

My eating habits are thoughtful and I am aware of how my choices affect my Heartfelt Desires.

Feeling good about what I eat and the decisions I make. Not feeling guilty about the decisions I make and or over the ones I know I should make but do not. Feeling comfortable not bloated or stomach sick.

I allow my eating choices to be at the “comfort food” level now and then, but keep these choices as the exception and not the rule.

Giving myself permission to eat for pleasure, but now and then, not all the time. Feeling the power of being able to make good eating decisions for myself. Feeling powerful in being part of the “solution” for myself, not the problem.

My strength, cardio, and flexibility health continue to improve as I continue to pay attention to these Heartfelt Desires.

Besides living well day to day, I am making my future potential life better. I am giving my body the chance to take care of me and allowing me to live longer and better. I am more active day to day as well as over time. I am able to do things I have not been able to do. I look forward to travel: in the U.S., in Europe, and in more challenging places like Asia.

• • • • •

I get a massage every other week, again very beneficial to my overall good health feeling and am thinking of increasing it to every week. Sarah, my massage therapist of 5+ years uses Thai Massage rather than table massage.

Traditional Thai massage uses no oils or lotions. The recipient remains clothed during treatment. There is constant body contact between the giver and receiver, but rather than rubbing on muscles, the body is compressed, pulled, stretched and rocked.

The recipient wears loose, comfortable clothing and lies on a mat or firm mattress on the floor. The receiver will be positioned in a variety of yoga-like positions during the course of the massage, that is also combined with deep static and rhythmic pressures.

The massage generally follows designated lines in the body. The legs and feet of the giver can be used to position the body or limbs of the recipient. In other positions, hands fix the body, while the feet do the massaging. There is a standard procedure and rhythm to the massage, which the giver will adjust to fit the receiver.

3) I joined Weight Watchers and have begun to be more careful in what I choose to eat.

4) I will begin a series of acupuncture sessions, with Marc, to work on my lower back and hip problems. A number of years ago, Marc helped me work through some fairly severe Rotator Cuff problems.

5) I have been meditating every day, sometimes for a short period of time and sometimes for longer periods of time. I use my own techniques (learned from Corrine) and also use the online "headspace.com."

6) I also have been reading and continuing my studies in Buddhism. Next step will be to find someone or someplace where I can participate in discussions of what I read about and about newly learned ideas.

• • • • •

So all in all, I feel pretty good about who I am today and where I am going tomorrow. I didn't even talk about my continuing writing, working on my memoirs, continuing the push to create ALZHEIMER'S: The Musical, and making presentations to various groups on living well with Alzheimer's Dementia. I also didn't talk about how much I continue to love my condo, my kitties, my friends, and my family.

So all in all, it looks like the beginning of a beautiful 2 0 1 9 !

The Unknowing Yogi

These thoughts spoke to me.

"The rejuvenating effects of sleep are due to man's temporary unawareness of body and breathing. The sleeping man becomes a yogi; each night he unconsciously performs the yogic rite of releasing himself from bodily identification, and of merging the life force with healing currents in the main brain region and in the six sub-dynamos (chakras)  of his spinal centers. Unknowingly, the sleeper is thus recharged by the cosmic energy that sustains all life."

Autobiography of a Yogi. Paramahansa Yoganhanada. 1945. Page 268.



"Gross man seldom or never realizes that his body is a kingdom, governed by Emperor Soul on the Throne of the Cranium, with subsidiary Regents in the six spinal centers or spheres of consciousness (Chakras.) This theocracy extends over a throng of obedient subjects; twenty-seven thousand billion in cells (endowed with sure if seemingly automatic intelligence by which they perform all duties and bodily growths, transformations, and dissolutions) and fifty million substratal thoughts, emotions,and variations of alternating phases in man's consciousness in an average life of sixty years.

"An apparent insurrection in the human body or mind against Emperor Soul, manifesting as disease or irrationality, is due to no disloyalty among the humble subjects, but stems from past or present misuse by man of his individuality or free will -- given to him simultaneously with a soul, and revocable never.

"Identifying himself with a shallow ego, man takes for granted that it is he who thinks, wills, feels, digests meals, and keeps himself alive, never admitting through reflection (only a little would suffice) that in his ordinary life he is naught but a puppet of past actions (karma) and of past Nature or environment (thoughts and experiences. )

Autobiography of a Yogi. Paramahansa Yoganhanada. 1945. Page 272.

So the two lessons are work at removing yourself from the conceited thoughts that it is you alone who is in charge of yourself. Rather, the question is "Who are you?" Ego vs true self?

Breathing Lessons

Ideas suggested to me by Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. 1945.

Focusing on the breath, on breathing, is one of the fundamental tenets of Buddhism and Yoga.Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. Buddhism is a philosophy and set of teachings which encompass a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. 

Something as necessary and simple as breathing can be a way to help you meditate, fall asleep, deal with a stressful situation, melt away anger or frustration, and much more.

Everyone breathes. A seemingly simple statement. But the ramifications of that statement suggest that through our breathing, especially if done with the correct intent (besides the need to breathe if we are to stay alive,) we can all touch a measure of peace, contentment, and understanding in our daily life without having to learn any new sophisticated skills. Just breathe!

The ancient Yogic technique of focusing on breathing converts the breath into mind-stuff. There is a mathematical relationship between a human's respiratory rate and the variation in states of consciousness, states of emotion.

In attempting some delicate or difficult physical feat or when keeping great focus; one automatically breathes very slowly. Quick or uneven breathing comes with fear, lust, anger.

When resting or sleeping one breathes more slowly than when engaging in physical work or exercising. When one is content and calm one breathes more slowly than when angry, agitated, upset. 

We can all speed up or slow down our breath when we concentrate on it. The difficulty is remembering to concentrate. especially when in the heat of a situation.

For example, when frightened or angry it will be more difficult to slow down your thoughts and/or emotions enough to think about breathing. If you are in a "fight or flight" situation, you will most likely have a difficult time remembering to work on your breathing. 

If you are asleep, resting, or quietly contented you are probably so relaxed that you will not need not remember to think about how your breathing contributes to these blissful feelings.

The difficulty is keeping aware of one's breath patterns and changing them when necessary. But if we think this through, and practice on purpose at various times during a day when neither overly stimulated or at rest, or when we are in an adverse situation trying to remember to think about our breathing (similar to remembering to count to 10 when angry  before reacting; we can get used to having more control over this seemingly automatic bodily function; to think about controlling our breathing when we most need to. We can do this over time without having to force our breathing.

When you are able to do just that; the fear, the anger, the emotional upset often comes under control and one can proceed to a calmer, more peaceful place and be better able to think things through, solve problems, interact with others. 

I found it amazing that since everyone is breathing all the time, we could all work towards meditating as we live and better experience our days and nights, and what a more pleasant life that would be.

Two breathing meditations are taught. 

Soham (so 'ham) is the Sanskrit for "I myself" or "It is I" or "She/He is I." When used for meditation, "Soham" acts as a natural mantra to control one's breathing pattern to help achieve deep breath and gain concentration.

• Sooooo... is the sound of exhalation, and is remembered in the mind along with exhalation.
• Hammmm... is the sound of inhalation, and is remembered in the mind along with inhalation.

The mantra is also inverted from So 'ham, to Ham Sa, also been interpreted as "I myself am the Swan, where the swan symbolizes the Atman, meaning "self, soul," a philosophical concept common to all schools of Hindu and Buddhism philosophy

• Hammmm... is the sound of exhalation, and is remembered in the mind along with exhalation.
 
• Saaaaaa... is the sound of inhalation, and is remembered in the mind along with inhalation.

Many a night, I have put myself to sleep quite quickly by using the SoHam or HamSa meditations. I am I. I am that which is. Translated to: I am all which I experience and I experience all which I am. 

By practicing an awareness of my breathing at various times during the day, on purpose and when not under duress, I have become better able to call on that technique when in need. I like to compare it to the game of football. The time to practice catching the ball is not when it is coming towards you during the heat of a game with the stands full of spectators! Practice does make perfect, or at least closer to perfect.

With thanks to Corinne Peterson for the two meditation mantras.