Follow Your Fear

 

 "The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it... The more fear we feel about a specific enterprise, the more certain we can be that enterprise is important to us and the growth of our soul. " 

- Steven Pressfield of  The War of Art

Read more:

FOLLOW YOUR FEAR SO YOU CAN FOLLOW YOUR HEART

How to Have Higher Productivity

As I've mentioned on my New Year post on Sexy Nomad (which is my personal and travel blog), I'm on a mission to change myself for the better. This applies not just in my love life but in all aspects of my life in general. 

Read more: How to Attain Higher Productivity at Home and Work

Be Proactive: 1st of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Perhaps it's that time of the month, or maybe because there were a few days I missed taking my pills on time, or most probably because someone I used to love just declared she doesn't like me and has been "plastic" all this time around me... these  have been making me feel the blues a lot more severely than usual. Just when everything else outside of me is great (I have someone who loves me very, very much, my savings in my bank account is growing, I am a lot healthier than a few months ago, I am living my dream lifestyle, I have a steady stream of worthy things to do) I don't understand why I am once again feeling so discontent and hopeless (the very same things that most probably contributed to the demise of my last relationship which I don't want to happen in my current one). 

Everyday, the last week, has just been one miserable internal experience after another. I only see the bad and the negative in my situation and it was driving me crazy inside. I was feeling so rejected and insecure that I began doubting myself thinking that maybe that person who rejected me was right. Maybe I am worthless. ...What's up with me? Why am I making this person hurt and affect me so much? My eyes have been swollen from constantly crying and I have been going out of my mind. 

Don't Make Plans, Make Options

Read more: 

DON’T JUST MAKE PLANS; MAKE OPTIONS! 

Breathe, Smile Now Meditation Retreat

I've mentioned in my Sexy Nomad blog that the month of September is a magical month for me because of a series of events which are perfectly unfolding according to my needs and wants. Just to summarize, I've been wanting a new kind of lifestyle, an upgrade from the current one I have been enjoying since I retired from government service in Dec. 2007. By upgrade, I do not mean material things, prestige, or wealth per se (though these things will naturally happen should I stay true to my chosen path). I just want a change of routine, greater responsibilities and bigger venue for learning and growth. I want to be the best Jen Adams I can be and use my potential to the fullest. Hence, my September has been a very busy one and it still is.  And with everything I am doing, I am very much in need of respite for the month of October so I can recharge and better prepare myself for bigger things to come.

So on October 16-19, God-willing, I am attending the Breathe Smile Now 4-day Mindfulness Retreat. I remember in 2012, when I attended the two-week Meditation Retreat and International Youth Seminar in Taiwan, I came back much more rejuvenated and ready to accept more blessings which was why I have been traveling non-stop for two years. I asked the universe for more travel opportunities and through the help of the meditation retreat I attended, I became more calm and centered and aligned with the universe that I became an automatic recipient of the things I wanted. This is because meditation can help a person become attuned to his/her subconscious which is where inspired ideas come from and from there, dreams can start materializing.

This 4-day mindfulness retreat will happen on October 16-19, 2014. Venue is in Mariapolis Center in Tagaytay. Weekend-only participation also possible. For more details and to register go to http://bit.ly/1oaP151

For more information about the retreat like the schedule, who will be conducting and other benefits you will get, please head to this link:
http://plumvillageasia.org/index.php/list-of-events/icalrepeat.detail/2014/10/16/100/-/philippines-breathe-smile-now-a-4-day-retreat

If you are a busy person like me, or someone who just wants to relax or someone in need of  inner peace once again it's about time that we experience and enjoy mindfulness, meditation, and our collective loving and nurturing energy.

This is our appointment with life: "Breathe, Smile, Now" :)

Benefits of Meditation (Things I Learned in Taiwan)

Aside from my Monastic Diaries, I also started blogging about my 2-week Life and Ch'an retreat in Taiwan. Below are my favorite quotes and teachings from the seminars I attended presided by Buddhist monks during Day 3 of my Taiwan trip.  I want to share them here with you as you might also find them inspirational.



"No one can help solve the depression within your heart. The only solution is to understand the heart of your depression. Only this way can you let go of your problems. Your environment and those in it is ever-changing. Are you affected by these changes? Are you vexed when things don't go your way?"

Read more: The Power of Meditation and What I Learned in Taiwan

Prince Charming Candidate

I've been doing a lot of meditation and thinking as of late. Sometimes, I feel like I am overthinking stuff and maybe I am.

Read more:  Prince Charming Candidate

Project Baby - What It's All About

*pic taken last weekend when I visited my friends Net and Dave and their beautiful daughter Anya*

I had another light bulb moment while I was taking a shower a few minutes ago. I couldn't wait to write down my thoughts so I rushed to my drawer to get an underwear, wore my panty and went in front of my computer, opened my blog and here I am now, hair still dripping wet, half naked, writing down my thoughts... It's about my project baby. 

Read more:  Project Baby - What It's All About

My Quest for Finding True Love Begins Now!

Jil Amil, one of my friends on FB who I admire so much for her desire and willingness to change herself for the better by overcoming her fears, told me about this amazing site, www.notsalmon.com not so long ago. 

Read more: My Quest for Finding True Love Begins Now!

 

Moving On and Starting a New Chapter

It's Day 2... 

And since the moment it happened, I've been reading this article to help me cope. It's true what that article says, that even if what had to end has already been unhealthy for sometime, once it does, you will still feel all sorts of painful and unsettling emotions after - stress, grief, disappointment, confusion, profound loss, sadness, etc. No wonder I'd always take back my decision before because I didn't want to deal with these painful emotions after. But now that the final decision had been his and I know I've already caused him so much pain too, it's time to grow up and face the music. 

Stillness in My Heart Speaks

It's the middle of the year and I am happy to say that at last, I found peace. Or maybe it's not entirely peace, but having gone through what I had for more than a year now, the emotional roller coaster, the  thoughts of suicide, wanting to end my marriage and all those other negative emotions that ate me up day in and day out no matter how blessed other people see me, it can take its toll on one's heart, mind and soul. And today, my 3rd day of feeling neutral, I realized how much I missed this. I missed the feeling of quiet and peace in my heart. My left brain is arguing that perhaps it's just my hormones finally coming to rest. But my right brain is reveling in it.

Discover the Treasure Within with Most Venerable Hsin Ting

Most Venerable Hsin Ting, widely respected Buddhist Monk and meditation teacher, will again visit Manila, this time to hold a series of activities that can help people discover the treasure within them and tap a spring of happiness and wealth. 

Most Venerable Hsin Ting will hold a talk on Meditative Concentration: The Source of Developing One's Wisdom on October 25, 2012 at 7:30PM. It will be a perfect introduction to the practice of meditation, regardless of one's religion or background. Experienced meditators will also gain insights to further their practice by attending this talk.

On October 26, 2012 also at 7:30PM, the beloved spiritual teacher will talk on The Way to Happiness. The lecture will be a great opportunity for everyone to hear with clarity the 2,500-year-old teachings of the Buddha that will surely bring hope and happiness. Both events will be held at Mabuhay Temple located at 656 Pablo Ocampo St., Malate Manila right across Century Park Hotel.

All talks by Most Venerable Hsin Ting will be anchored on the Diamond Sutra, an essential Mahayana Buddhist scripture, often said to contain the key to authentic transformation. The sutra is regarded by many devotees as a source of wisdom and good fortune, thus, most of them read and recites it in a regular basis.

Most Venerable Hsin Ting will also personally preside over a Triple Gem and Five Precepts Ceremony on October 27, 2012 at Mabuhay Temple. Taking refuge in the Triple Gem simply means abiding and seeking support from the Buddha, his teachings and his community of followers. It is a very important step for anyone who is serious in studying and practicing Buddhism. In addition to taking refuge in the Triple Gem, an individual can also commit to observe the Five Precepts or guides that encourage good conduct, namely, to refrain from killing, stealing, committing sexual misconduct, lying and taking intoxicants.

After taking part in the Triple Gem Refuge and Five Precepts Ceremony, an individual can still follow the practices of other religions and faiths as long as they promote goodness and guide them on the right track. It is not even required for an individual to become a vegetarian after agreeing to uphold the Five Precepts. 

Most Venerable Hsin Ting was the sixth abbot and director of Taiwan-based Fo Guang Shan monastery from 1997-2005. He renounced under Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan, in 1968 and is a forty-ninth lineage holder of the Linji Chan School. He graduated from the Eastern Buddhist College and the India Research Institute of the Chinese Cultural University. He further received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Fo Guang Shan-affiliated University of the West in Rosemead, California in 1998.

Expected to succeed Venerable Master Hsing Yun as the head teacher of Fo Guang Shan, Most Venerable Hsin Ting now travels around the world to share the joys of the Dharma through lectures, instruction in Ch'an (Zen) meditation, Buddhist ceremonies, chants, books, educational and humanitarian projects.

For more information, please go to www.mabuhaytemple.com/treasure-within or call 0917-8124424.

Sexy Nomad's Monastic Diaries (Entry # 1): Hogwarts is that you?

To see the prologue or to have a better idea where my Monastic diary entries came from, please head to these links:

Spot the Filipino Harry Potter Look-Alike and Some Thoughts for the Coming Days

2012 International Youth Seminar on Life and Ch'an

*This meditation retreat is an option the participants at the youth seminar can take on the 2nd week. There were 1,500 participants during the one-week 2012 International Youth Seminar on Life and Ch'an in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Only 200 were admitted to the Meditation Retreat  the following week, including me.*

~~~oOo~~

July 28, 2012 Saturday | On my bunk bed | Fo Guang Shan Temple in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

I sometimes feel like I'm in Hogwarts (Kung Fu Panda version) with the long monastic robes all 200 of us are wearing, the huge expanse of land which houses various Buddha temples and contemplation sites, the sound of the birds chirping all day long, the ringing of the bells and gongs every hour or so signalling the time for prayers, chanting meditation and meals. It's Hogwarts alright but without the magic and mystical creatures.

However, unlike Hogwarts, this meditation retreat that I'm attending is boring in nature. There are no classes per se nor seminars unlike last week's international youth seminar. We are not even allowed to speak to each other or to anyone. The monks had us surrender our cellphones, laptops, iPods, iPads and other gadgets. In fact, according to the manual, we are also not allowed to write. Strictly speaking, any form of communication is not allowed during this 5-day retreat! My God! I'm going to die! So I'm hiding here in my bed writing these things down on my little pink notebook before I go crazy in this 5-day  meditation retreat with a vow of silence to boot plus vegetarian meals and manual chores in between which I deposited $100 for. It's going to be refunded back to me if I last the whole week. IF I LAST THE WHOLE WEEK!

Birthday Thoughts

It's my birthday today and it hit me... I'm old! And I hope wiser too. Since February came around, I've been thinking about OLD AGE--- A LOT! It will still be decades before I hit that mark but I feel like I have to be proactive about ensuring our happy and healthy survival. After all, my husband and I don't have kids and we only have each other to count on when that time comes.  I've also been feeling like I'm no longer the fun-crazed gal I was before. I now think about RETIREMENT too. No thanks to Suze Orman, who I love by the way, but man, her financial advices are really hitting me to the core. Now I just like to make money, save money, invest when possible, and stop myself from spending for unnecessary stuff (budget travels are excluded coz that's the only "luxury" I have left in life, hahaha. Hey, it's educational and enriching too!). After all, we've already accumulated a lot of stuff over the years, stuff that we don't even get to use as often as we want to (like our surfboard, our foosball, or 4 flat screen TVs [omg!4!], our drums, guitar & keyboard [huhu], our old Wii & PSP, my tons of brand new shoes and books.... stuff that just keep on accumulating dust inside our house. Tsk, tsk. Maybe Peter is right, I'm a hoarder and it's time I face that fact. But at least I'm not like those hoarders I see on TV, I can't live like that. I'm still a sensible and neat freak hoarder if I may say so. I think our house is a testament to that.

Maybe this is just a phase but I have a feeling that I am turning into somebody more sensible, more "kuripot", and more mature (I hope!). Sure, I still crave enjoyment but it has now taken a totally different form. And when I say different form, I mean sleep. At least, this is what's happening to me as of late. In my head, I still do make plans that seem to match the energy of a twenty year old but once I'm done for the day and I retire to our bedroom, I just simply fall into blissful slumber. Before I know it, the weekend has turned into one long dreamless sleep and it's Monday once again. There goes my list of fun activities down the drain! Or maybe because I was just feeling sick since last weekend. I didn't have the flu but I had some of its symptoms like aching joints, over-fatigued body, headache, runny nose... Thank God for Vita Plus and Bioflu it was no more than that and I am starting to feel a little better.The Valentine hoopla helped I guess. ;)

So anyway, what's for my birthday? I honestly don't know. I didn't make any plans. I'll let life take me to wherever it takes me. I've been making too many plans for far too long, I think it's time to let go of the lists in the meantime and just let life surprise me, for this weekend at least. Happy birthday, me! (^_^)

-----------------
Feb. 20, 2012
P.S. Because I let life take me wherever, I ended up having one of the most memorable birthdays ever: Manila Ocean Park, The Pergola, etc. - a Happy Birthday Weekend Celebration

The 30-day Challenge

Today is the Chinese new year. We're now entering the year of the Water Dragon and more than the prediction of the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar, we should focus on the great things that 2012 has to bring. In essence, the year of the Water Dragon will bring so much blessings to those who are generous and kind, to those who are embarking on new adventures and those who  make this world a better place to live in. All of us can do our part, even if it means just changing one bad habit. After all, habits are what make the success and failure patterns  of our life. It's those little things we do everyday on a consistent basis that will dictate the direction our life is taking. 

Read more: How To Take The 30-Day Challenge (Turn A New Habit Into A Way of Life) - https://momtraneur.com/2018/05/20/how-to-take-the-30-day-challenge-turn-a-new-habit-into-a-way-of-life/

Jan. 3 Gratitude Journal

When we have gratitude in our hearts, we attract more of the things we want.  So for today, let me take this time to thank God and the universe for these three things I consider my blessings:

1. That I am able to do what's on my list for the first 3 days of the year. (I hope to be consistent for the next 362 days of the year)
2. That I was able to book cheap flights to Siargao and Cebu this summer. (I hope I can find cheap accommodations too as I will be staying there for 17 days)
3. That I have work I like and hobbies that give me joy. (Since I have been allowing myself to spend more time making my herbal jelly soaps, I am happier and surprisingly excited to continue doing my VA jobs this year.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Peace and Inner Guidance

The past year, I have not listened to my inner guidance on several occasions because of other seemingly important and urgent matters. It made me resentful, unhappy and even depressed. I hope to change all that and start living in peace and harmony within myself. This new year serves as a very good platform for personal rebirth.

According to the Para-Gram PEACE by Paramahansa Yoganada:

Change yourself and you have done your part in changing the world. Every individual must change his own life if he wants to live in a peaceful world. The world  cannot become peaceful unless and until you yourself begin to work toward peace. It is only by removing hate from our hearts that we can live a Christlike life.

But how does one remove hate within himself? Since its source usually comes from the fact that we are always doing what is expected of us rather than what we really want to do, then it just means that when we change ourselves according to the dictates of our inner voice (that voice being of God's or from something greater than all of us), then we will start achieving peace and divinity within ourselves.

This also resonates with a quote I read by Shakti Gawain:

Every time you don't follow your inner guidance you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness.

This is why we easily get tired and lethargic when we do things we feel are not meant for us to do; This is why on occasions that we do listen to our inner voice and follow our own bliss, we feel much more alive, powerful and full of unconditional love. A balance can be attained if we don't want to risk everything just yet for that one thing we want to do. We can enjoy the process and continue learning from it while slowly changing the direction of our lives to our true calling.

I now include these quotes in my daily reading to bring me peace, and to guide me in my quest for creativity. You can also use them if you want to bring to the surface your creative spirit rather than remain as a shadow of your divine artist self the coming years.

Vision Boards and Guide Folders for a Better New Year

My new vision board for 2012 and beyond.

I spent about five hours from dawn til morning creating my vision board and guide folders. Having a vision board is an amazing tool to help any person achieve his/her goals. According to Jack Canfield, author of of The Success Principles, if you have trouble seeing your goals, use pictures, images and symbols you collect to keep your conscious and subconscious mind focused on your goals. Once you have created these images, you can place them on a dream board or make a collage on a bulletin board, a refrigerator door, or somewhere where you will see them everyday. I placed mine on my office wall, right in front of my computer.

I've been using my old vision board since Oprah taught me how to do it in 1999. Everything I pasted on that old vision board has already come true.

my super old vision board (since 1999)

I made a smaller one which I posted on my 2009  Belle  de Jour planner before but that one got forgotten.

 My 2009 vision board which got neglected when I stopped using my BDJ planner

Dec. 23 Gratitude Journal

I promised myself before that I'll do this gratitude journal on my blog. Here are three things I am thankful for today:

1. Discovering the course The Artists' Way - a Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
2. My sister being home this holiday season
3. My parents staying with us until New Year

How about you? What are you thankful for today?

Morning Pages and Artist Date - Tools of the Artist's Way

As the year is ending, I am reminded once again of projects undone and creative pursuits kept on hold because of lack of time, motivation and the need to earn real money... fast!

So I am embarking on this task of unleashing my inner creativity by taking a 12-week course through "The Artists' Way - a Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity." It is a course in discovering and recovering your creative self written by Julia Cameron and Mark Bryan.



I've gone through the introduction and I was taught how to use two main tools for the duration of the course: Morning Pages and Artist Date

What are morning pages?

Basically, as a student of this course, I am asked to write every morning three pages of whatever comes to my mind. When this course was made, blogging hasn't been born yet. So ideally, this should be written down on a notebook. But I prefer to write it on a separate blog I call Jen's Morning Pages.

Anyway, in terms of its content, there is no right or wrong way of doing this. The things I write about can be negative, positive, boring, wrong grammar, wrong spelling, whatever. It doesn't really matter. The point of this exercise is to be able to write my thoughts the instant I think about them, no matter what I think about the activity, no matter how I feel at the moment, no matter how much I resist doing it, whatever the case may be. No corrections should be made. I just have to do it. This type of discipline will allow me to detach myself from my emotions. Eventually, this act will help unleash my creativity no matter what I feel or think.


What is the Artist date?

This is a set of time (like two hours a week for instance) where I take my own inner artist out on a date. It should just be me and my artist self. Spending time in solitude with my artist child is essential to self-nurturing. It could be anything as long as I do it on my own. I should do what intrigues me, what excites me. In order to have a real relationship with my creativity, I must take the time and care to cultivate it. Generally, the student's creativity will use this time to confront himself, to confide with himself, to bond with himself, and to plan.


These are the two most important things during this whole 12 weeks of unleashing my inner creativity and unblocking my fears and roadblocks. The artists who have taken this course in the past have continued doing these things well beyond the 12-week duration of the course. Many of them have fulfilled their dreams of becoming artists, some have become movie producers (like Steven Spielberg), real authors, painters, etc. I intend to finish this course and continue using the tools afterward. I've already signed my contract and I am committing myself to this.

Wish me luck!